Shaq once claimed he would 'kill' Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a hypothetical matchup: 'He was too light. I would have given him the one-two, boom-boom, elbow, throw it down'

Anyone who has even a slight interest in basketball, especially the NBA, has likely engaged in a thought experiment of placing all-time great players in hypothetical situations, such as 1v1 matchups against each other.

How would LeBron James stack up against Michael Jordan in the 1990s, or how many points would MJ score if he played in today's fast-paced game are just some of those scenarios.

Shaquille vs. Kareem matchup

Shaquille O'Neal, one of the most dominant players of all time, has often been asked how he would match up against someone like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the second on the all-time leading scorers lists and an absolute legend of the Los Angeles Lakers.

"The Big Aristotle" acknowledged the difficulty of comparing players from different eras but gave a straightforward answer that left nothing on the table.

“You know, a lot of people try to compare stuff that can never be compared. I mean, it’s different. I look at his game and the way he played and the way I played, and I think I would kill him,” “The Diesel” claimed in an interview with SLAM magazine.

“He was the man of his time, and I was the man of my time. His numbers are up there. I would have held my own. I’m not really known for defense, so he probably would have got his numbers, but I would have got my numbers, too, because I always got great numbers against great centers.”

Do numbers lie?

Of course, the eras in which these two legendary centers dominated are completely different, and the game has evolved over the years, which makes such comparisons very tricky. However, in terms of achievements, “The Cap” holds a sizable lead against “The Diesel.” Six regular-season MVPs for KAJ, only one for Shaq, six titles to four, 19 All-Star appearances to 15—these are just some of the indicators that favor the legendary inventor of the “Skyhook.”

But since it’s not all about numbers and stats, it must be acknowledged that the LSU product was the most dominant player ever at his peak. A 7'1'', 325-pound beast who could still run up and down the court and dunk over an entire opposing lineup was a sight to behold. It was this raw power that O'Neal, as he himself admits, would have played against Jabbar.

“People say Kareem would’ve killed me, but in my mind, I think Kareem was too light. I would have given him the one-two, boom-boom, elbow, throw it down,” the Hall of Famer added.

One thing is certain, whether you choose Kareem, Shaquille, or any other legendary big man, you wouldn’t be wrong.