In the 1992-93 season, two legendary center Shaquille O'Neal (Shaquille O'Neal) and Patrick Ewing met for the first time in the NBA. On November 20, 1992, O'Neal's Orlando Magic played Ewing's New York Knicks away.
Although O'Neal had a great game with 18 points and 17 rebounds, the Magic ultimately lost the game 77-92. Ewing paid five fouls in defense of O'Neal, and he finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. The focus of the game was the first meeting between the two legendary centers, which was arguably an introductory test for O'Neal's first entry into the league.
O'Neal showed his strength and agility in this game, while his offense and defense caused Ewing a lot of problems. Despite Ewing's more experience in the game, O'Neal grew into a top center in the NBA over the course of the season. After the game, Ewing said of the Sharks: "I think he's a great player, he plays seriously and aggressively. Even the ** in New York has to admit: except for the basket jumper and passing, Ewing really has nothing more than this 20-year-old hairy kid who has only played 8 games.
This game showcased the importance of teamwork in the game of basketball. Despite O'Neal's strong individual ability, the Knicks' blue-collar interior team successfully limited his play through tacit cooperation and contributed to the team's victory.
This encounter was the start of a long rivalry between O'Neill and Ewing. Throughout their careers, the two have faced off against each other in many classic roles. The game showcased the beauty of the game of basketball: while individual ability is important, teamwork and strategy are equally indispensable.