'I knew it was all BS' - Shaquille O'Neal on why he doesn't remember any of Pat Riley's motivational speeches

If you could pick any NBA head coach to inspire you to reach your full potential, Pat Riley would likely be at the top of many people's lists. "The Godfather" is famous for his remarkable ability to lift his teams, especially when they were feeling down, and he delivered countless inspiring speeches—whether before a game, during halftime, or after the final buzzer.

During his coaching career from 1981 to 2008, Riles led three legendary franchises—the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat—and achieved great success: five championship titles, three COY awards, and nine All-Star Game appearances as head coach. Now, at 79 years old, he is rightfully regarded as one of the top 10 coaches in NBA history.

However, Riley's motivational style didn't connect with everyone. For instance, Shaquille O'Neal, who played under the then-Miami head coach for two and a half seasons in the mid-2000s, found it less effective. In his autobiography, "Shaq Uncut: My Story," the Hall of Famer openly mentioned that during training sessions, Pat often gave motivational speeches that ultimately didn't inspire him at all.

"Pat gave a lot of motivational speeches. After a while, when he launched into one of them, my eyes kind of glazed over, to be honest. I can't tell you one speech he ever gave, because I knew it was all BS," wrote O'Neal.

Riley was a powerful motivator

Shaq's lack of interest in Pat definitely comes as a surprise to many. This is especially true considering the numerous times "The Godfather" showed he was anything but boring when it came to motivating his players. A memorable story from the 2006 NBA Finals illustrates this perfectly.

At the time, his team from South Beach was down by two games in their series against the Dallas Mavericks. This tough situation, according to an ESPN report, prompted the then-head coach to deliver what he called one of his "best motivational messages ever."

"Riley once put a large bucket of ice water in front of him and told his team: 'If you want to win a championship, you have to want it…' Stopping in mid-sentence, Riley plunged his head into the water and kept it there for several seconds, which turned into a minute, which turned into even more than a minute. His players sat dumbfounded, watching, until Riley finally pulled his head out of the water and finished his sentence:…like it's your last breath.'"

With Pat doing his own rendition of the "Ice Bucket Challenge," long before it became a social media trend, he essentially put his life on the line to send a message to his struggling team. Naturally, the Heat players were inspired by their coach's intensity and responded accordingly, ultimately claiming the franchise's first championship title by winning the series in six games.

Jackson was Shaq's one and only

O'Neal had a part in the Heat's run that year. The legendary big man averaged 13.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, ultimately earning the fourth and final championship ring of his Hall of Fame career. However, it's likely that even without Riley's motivational strategies, Shaq would have still strived to lead a successful comeback against the Mavs.

This brings back the question of why the New Jersey native was not as influenced by "The Godfather." To understand this, one needs to consider Shaq's experience being coached by the legendary Phil Jackson with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Diesel" joined forces with the head coach, who had previously won six rings with the Chicago Bulls, after the latter's appointment in 1999. A look at what "The Zen Master" did in his first meeting with the NBA superstar reveals his unique approach to motivation.

After inviting O'Neal to his home in Montana, Phil reportedly greeted him with an unusual request: he asked the center to move a log from a nearby lake to an island. Then, without saying another word, the coach simply closed the door.

"Boy, when I tell you, that water was colder than a mf," Shaq later recounted. "I had to like get the log and then swim and then we push it to the other side. Took about two hours, then when I came back, he's (Jackson) like 'All right, I'm ready to coach you. I'll see you.' Like we didn't even have a conversation."

Dissecting Shaq's statement

Ultimately, Shaq's comment about Riles was more of a compliment to Jackson, whom the 52-year-old said had given him "the blueprint" for what he needed "to do as a player."

Regardless of what "The Godfather" might have done or said, Shaquille found that after experiencing Phil's coaching, it just didn't connect with him. It's often said that every NBA player encounters a coach who leaves a lasting impression, and for the two-time scoring champ, that coach was probably "The Zen Master."

Before being mentored by the now 79-year-old, O'Neal was already seen as a generational talent after starting his time in the league with the Orlando Magic as the first overall pick in the 1992 Draft. However, it's likely that he wouldn't have reached his full potential without Jackson's guidance, which extended beyond the basketball court.

Phil not only led the legendary 7'1" center to three consecutive rings and Finals MVP awards with the Purple and Gold, but he also played a crucial role in helping O'Neal transition into a successful business investor and entrepreneur after his remarkable playing career ended in 2011.