When Shaquille O’Neal disrespected Jerry Buss over contract extension: “Now you gonna pay me?...Show me the money!”

Shaquille O’Neal was arguably the most dominant NBA player during his prime. Standing at 7-foot-1 and weighing sometimes close to 400 pounds, Shaq was a force to be reckoned with.

Thanks to his impressive physique and amazing basketball skills, O'Neal helped the LA Lakers win three championships. However, his ego prevented him from achieving even more and he even had a clash with the late Jerry Buss, the owner of the team.

“Now you gonna pay me?” O'Neal said to Buss after blocking a shot.

This took place during an exhibition game against the Denver Nuggets. However, Shaq's on-court behavior wasn't everything. After the game, O'Neal yelled, "Show me the money!" in the arena's hallways.

Shaquille O’Neal was not too happy with Jerry Buss

Jerry Buss acquired the LA Lakers in 1979 and achieved a lot of success with the team. During his ownership, the franchise had numerous superstars, from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, to Kobe Bryant and Shaq.

After his demise in 2013, the Lakers were inherited by Buss' children. Jerry's daughter, Jeanie Buss, is currently the owner and president of the popular basketball team.

O'Neal had disagreements with Jerry Buss (Image via Getty Images)

While Jerry Buss did a fantastic job with the Lakers, Shaquille O’Neal disagreed with him on some things. The big man wanted the team to give him a three-year contract extension worth $100 million from Buss, which did not happen.

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Disrespecting a team owner in the public was a bold move, even for Shaquille O’Neal. The big man also had a feud with Kobe Bryant, which certainly did not help his case. Due to this, Shaq ended up getting traded to the Miami Heat, where he signed a contract extension.

Shaq's contract extension with Miami Heat

After eight years and three championships with the LA Lakers, the talented big man was sent to South Beach. In return, the Lakers received Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant, and two draft picks from Miami.

At this point, Shaq was in the final year of his contract and was making $27.7 million from it. After his first season with Miami, the big man was given a contract extension, which turned out to be the right move.

O'Neal helped the Heat win their first championship (Image via Getty Images)

The big man signed a five-year contract extension worth $100 million with the Heat, leaving a lot of money on the tablet. However, he prioritized winning the championship over money, which ended up benefiting both sides.

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In his second season in South Beach, O'Neal helped the Heat win their first-ever championship. While the team was led by the fantastic Dwyane Wade, Shaq was a big contributor who was a double-double threat every night.