5 most impressive dunks of Shaquille O’Neal’s career

#2 The Kobe Alley-oop

In a win-or-go-home situation, the Los Angeles Lakers came up clutch against the Portland Trail Blazers. On the 4th of June in 2000, it was Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals and the Lakers were down 13 points to start the fourth. Shaquille O’Neal scored 9 points in the quarter, shooting 100% on three attempts.

Late in the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryant crossed-up Scottie Pippen and then threw up an alley-oop for Shaquille O’Neal. The chemistry the duo shared was evident when O’Neal went up high to collect it and slam it down, giving the Lakers a 6-point cushion. The Lakers progressed to the 2000 NBA Finals and Shaquille O’Neal’s dunk got etched in every highlight reel of the series.

#1 Breaking the backboard vs the Nets

One of the most outrageous dunks of Shaquille O’Neal’s career came on the 23rd of April in 1993, against the New Jersey Nets. The physical center was 20 years old and in his rookie season. The Magic beat the Nets by a narrow 3-point margin, taking their record to 40-41 with one game left.

The most memorable moment of the game was when Shaquille O’Neal received the ball from Anthony Bowie under the rim and went up for a dunk. When he came down, so did the backboard, completely disfigured. O’Neal got a shot in the head with the shot clock but fortunately nothing major. His dunk forced the players into the locker room as the game was delayed on grounds of equipment repair.

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