Michael Wilbon would like to play peacemaker between Shaquille O’Neal and David Robinson over a feud that never happened.
Wednesday was the 30th anniversary of the night Robinson scored 71 points against the Los Angeles Clippers in the final game of the NBA regular season to edge Shaq out for the scoring title. After Tony Kornheiser celebrated the anniversary on PTI, Wilbon shared disappointment over Shaq’s relationship with Robinson, believing the two Hall of Famers are marred by a decades-old feud.
Michael Wilbon upset about an old rift between Shaq and David Robinson caused by an autograph.
“I love them both, I wish there was some way to just bridge it.” pic.twitter.com/CjBugBLjFG
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 25, 2024
“I know Shaq has talked about this,” Wilbon chimed in. “This is one of those kind of semi-beef things that bothers me. I think David Robinson didn’t sign an autograph or something when Shaq was growing up in the San Antonio area when he was a kid. And I understand, that would make me crazy too, when I was a kid. I would hold it against him forever. But come on! Those are two of the great players in NBA history. Two of the important players. I love them both. I wish there was some way to just bridge it, maybe.”
The easiest way to bridge the feud is by learning that it never happened. Inside the NBA similarly noted the anniversary of Robinson’s 71-point game to earn the 1994 NBA scoring title. And like Wilbon, Shaq referenced his autograph feud with Robinson.
“The man who didn’t sign my autograph, I’m coming for you, Dave!” Shaq said. “Ernie, he didn’t sign my autograph! I’m coming for you, Dave.”
But after hearing Wilbon reference the feud on PTI and Shaq attempt to foster the more than 30-year-old rumor on the same night, Ernie Johnson couldn’t let it continue.
Ernie Johnson later revealed Shaq made the whole thing up… pic.twitter.com/ctFWhV0RXS
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 25, 2024
“Our friend Michael Wilbon, he was referencing this whole thing with you and David Robinson,” Johnson said as Shaq began to smirk. “And I need to tell Wilbon that you made that story up. I need to tell him. Because you’ve admitted, you made that story up.”
Kenny Smith noted that Shaq already took to TV to admit the story of David Robinson snubbing him as a kid was made up.
In 2020, Shaq publicly apologized to Robinson on a ‘90s NBA reunion Zoom call during the height of the pandemic. Shaq admitted he made the story up after Robinson “took all my shine when he came to San Antonio.” Robinson even revealed that Shaq previously admitted the story was fake while they were at the 1996 Olympics.
Apparently, the admission never made its way to Wilbon. But hopefully, Wilbon can sleep better tonight knowing he doesn’t need to mend any bridge between Shaquille O’Neal and David Robinson.
About Brandon Contes
Brandon Contes is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He previously helped carve the sports vertical for Mediaite and spent more than three years with Barrett Sports Media. Send tips/comments/complaints to bcontes@thecomeback.com