On the show Inside the NBA, Shaquille ONeal remembered his early years coming to the NBA and playing against Michael Jordan. Shaq admitted that he was scared of Jordan because he was able to see what it was playing against him in real life. Before that, he only had the opportunity to watch him on tv, and soon he realized how great Jordan was in a real matchup when Shaq faced the Bulls in his rookie season.

I was terrified out there for the whole game. One, he is the greatest player and two I was worried about him dunking on me, and I would have to go back and face the fellas. And three, he was so hot that I was like man, this dude. The staff that I saw when I was in college on tv was really real. I was terrified.

Shaq was a dominant figure ever since his rookie year, and he said he felt confident going against the Bulls centers anytime he got the ball.

But when I got the ball and saw those bumps playing me, I was going to go to work. Bums, you know what Im saying.

Shaq also said he was scared of Barkley, Ewing and David Robinson but surprisingly not Hakeem Olajuwon. According to Shaq, Hakeem was too much of a nice guy, so he didnt impose that type of fear element as the other guys did on him.

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Shaquille O'Neal explains why he was scared of Michael Jordan when he first came into the NBA - Basketball Network