Patrick Ewing, David Robinson and Alonzo Mourning weren't as much of a challenge for Shaq as facing The Big Fundamental was.

 is the most dominant player in NBA history. Some say he had a legitimate chance of being the Greatest of All Time. With such distinctions, one would assume that Shaq had little difficulty navigating his way in the big men’s world. But in reality, there was one player with whom O’Neal had a tough time.

The Big Fundamental

What makes Shaq the most dominant player in NBA history is that he didn’t just utilize brute strength to win. He also had some mind games up his sleeve. According to Shaq,  was the only one who slapped his trash-talking attempts with a nonchalant look.

“” O’Neal wrote in his autobiography “”

This isn’t one of those stories that Shaq packaged to boost Duncan’s stature.

Those who saw him play agree with Shaq’s observation. Duncan showed very little emotion on the court. Even after posterizing someone through a dunk or a block, Duncan would run back to the other side of the floor like a robot.

Basketball perfection

In a way, Duncan’s persona defined the Spurs’ playstyle.

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