One of the most memorable moves in NBA history came when Shaquille O’Neal joined the Miami Heat, where he was coached by Pat Riley. Recently, Shaq shed new light on just how demanding Riley was on his players, even the biggest stars.

O’Neal has often been described by Riley as the franchise’s most important acquisition, even more impactful than the arrival of LeBron James years later. Together, O’Neal and Riley led the Heat to the 2006 championship, a triumph that cemented their legacies. But beneath the success, tension built between the Hall of Fame center and the legendary coach, ultimately leading to O’Neal’s departure.

According to Riley, much of that strain stemmed from frustration over injuries. During the 2007-08 NBA season, O’Neal missed extended time with a hip injury, back pai

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