The late 2000s and early 2010s era of the NBA brought about huge drama and entertainment.
There were the Los Angeles Lakers’ back-to-back NBA championship runs in 2009 and 2010 spearheaded by the late Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, before Dirk Nowitzki ushered the Dallas Mavericks to their first ever title in 2011.
Shaq retired from the NBA in 2011GettyThen, LeBron James took flight, and won his first two titles with the Miami Heat alongside Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and who could forget their epic NBA Finals battles against Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs.
Ray Allen’s clutch 3-pointer in the dying seconds of Game 6 in the 2013 Finals to force a Game 7 is forever etched into the history of some of the league’s greatest ever moments.
But during that era, reality television was at its peak. Keeping Up With the Kardashians led the way, but when it came to sports reality shows, it was Shaquille O’Neal’s ‘Shaq Vs.’ series which kept sports fans entertained away from the hardwood.
The NBA Hall of Famer, who won four titles in his lengthy 19-year career, took part in the reality-competition TV series between 2009 and 2010 as he was in the twilight of his career.
The premise of the show was for the 7-foot-1 center to challenge some of the greatest athletes in their field, such as a 7-on-7 quarterback challenge with former Pittsburgh Steelers star Ben Roethlisberger.
He also challenged legendary baseball figure Albert Pujols in a home-run derby, though he had a shorter distance handicap, among many others.
But one of his most memorable episodes was against Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, whom O’Neal admitted was the main inspiration for creating the series in the first place.
“So, one night I’m watching Michael Phelps swim and I said, ‘Damn, that dude is fast,’ ” O’Neal said in his 2011 autobiography titled Shaq Uncut: My Story, via Sportskeeda.
“I’m talking to my boys and I said, ‘Do you think if Michael Phelps went down and back for one lap and all I had to do was just go down for half a lap, could I beat him? I think I could.’ We started laughing, and I said, ‘That’s it. That’s my show, Shaq vs.’ “
In 2009, during the Season 1 finale, Shaq challenged Phelps to a race in the pool over 25 yards. Although Phelps had to swim 50 yards in the contest, he was given a five second head-start over O’Neal to balance the playing field.
Shaq challenged Olympic legend Michael Phelps to a swimming competitionGetty Phelps won 28 medals at the Olympic Games, including 23 gold medalsGetty Images - GettyWith the battle in full swing, the commentator on hand couldn’t help but get excited.
“They battle 25 yards,” the commentator said enthusiastically. “Good technique by O’Neal, but Phelps comes burning towards the finish.
“Can Shaq hold on? Shaq has got to hurry, O’Neal to the finish. Yes! Shaquille O’Neal with the victory.
“Shaq ‘Diesel’ has won his first event. This is unbelievable. Shaquille O’Neal is finally a winner.”
Though O’Neal won in round one, he would go on to lose the relay round, which saw him team up with three female Olympic swimmers to go against Phelps who had to swim the 200m by his lonesome.
The third and final challenge involved O’Neal having to cover 50 yards in the pool, while the Olympian had to cover 75 yards.
The basketball star would finish just two tenths off of Phelps’ time (38.59 seconds) with the 23-time Olympic champion and 28 time medallist coming out victorious after winning 2-1.
In season one, the esteemed basketball star lost all five challenges he faced, while in season two, he would win just twice — once against ‘Inside the NBA’ co-host Charles Barkley in a golf challenge, and the other against five random people in a hot-dog eating competition.
With the series airing just 10 episodes, Shaq finished with a 2-12-1 record, having tied with sprinter Tyson Gay in a 60m race, with a 30m head start.
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