Yao was unable to play in what would have been his fifth All-Star game he was medically cleared to play on March 4, 2007, after missing 32 games. Yao blocked O’Neal’s first three shots attempts, altered Kobe Bryant’s game-winning attempt at the end of regulation and dunked it with 10.2 seconds left for the biggest basket of the night, giving Houston a 104-100 lead to seal the game, as he was a seeming hero of the game. Yao ming next to shaq I included this to make everyone feel good and confident and tall. Alongside adding Shaquille O’Neal, Rasheed Wallace, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kevin Garnett to that list, Naz also spoke about Yao. Back in 2015, Naz was asked to name the toughest players he ever guarded. The game ended up going into overtime, where the Rockets would prevail with a 108-104 win. Nazr Mohammed also revealed why Yao Ming was one of the 6 toughest players he ever guarded. Da Fang had been nagging her son to watch a DVD of Shaquille O'Neal that. He was holding his own for a good chunk of the game, but the reigning MVP was getting better as the game went on and started to dominate and play his game. Even by the time Yao arrived in 2002, only a few American aficionados might. You know he is The Magazines Next Athlete 2001. I tried to hit him with a fadeaway Block. You know that Yao Ming is roughly 76' and 20 years old, and that he is potentially the worlds next athlete of impact. He came in and I tried to hit him with a smooth finger-roll move Block, Shaq said, speaking about how Yao Ming challenged his game.
Yao showed no fear, as he surprised everybody on the defensive end, keeping Shaq out of the paint and blocking him numerous times, and going at him on the other end. That is exactly what the four-time champion said on an ESPN interview with Yao Ming and Allen Iverson sitting next to him on either side. The game and matchup would live up to the hype, as both players gave it their all. While on the other side you had the biggest powerhouse in the history of the NBA, who would take every player into the rim. Yao was a huge and lanky center, with an unbelievable skill set for his size, with a nice touch around the rim and great passing ability. That hype was going up, as the matchup between a rookie Yao Ming and 30-year old prime Shaquille O’Neal was set to take the stage for the first time.