Shaquille O’Neal was highly attached to his family and bonded with his mother and grandmother like no other. However, his grandmother’s death on April 2, 1996, significantly impacted the former Magic center. He was allowed an indefinite off to return to his family in East Orange, New Jersey, by his team and was expected to miss the next home game against Chicago Bulls. Shaq and the Magic lost that game. However, it was later revealed that Shaq’s mother, Lucile, had urged him to play the game. She wanted her son to face Michael Jordan and the Bulls despite everything.

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In the game, the team would have been better off without Shaq, given his grieving state. However, to coach Brian Hill’s surprise, Shaq arrived at the Orlando Arena to face Michael Jordan. Although Shaq had decided to skip the game, considering the funeral on the 13th of April, coach Hill found it extremely surprising to see O’Neal sitting on the bench late in the first quarter.

Shaquille O’Neal uncalled arrival before a match against the Bulls caused havoc for Orlando Magic coach Brian Hill

As Sports Illustrated had reported in 1996, coach Brian Hill had prepared a game plan for the home game against the Bulls. In his plan, O’Neal was not included. However, Shaq’s sudden presence in the Arena caused Hill to arrive at a weird and awkward position.

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That day, Shaq entered in the second quarter, scoring 21 points and nine rebounds. It is assumed that coach Hill was perhaps pressured by general manager John Gabriel and President Bob Vander Weide to include Shaq.

On his sudden appearance at the arena, Shaq said his mother urged him to play the game. Describing this incident, Shaq said his mother contacted him while he was in Atlanta.

“She paged me. I thought something else was wrong. But she said, ‘you need to go play. Stop sitting around crying.'”

Orlando lost the game 86-90 to the Bulls.

Orlando Magic’s loss because of Shaquille O’Neal gave Bulls an important title that season

Although Shaquille O’Neal contributed 21 points in that match, losing their third home match in a wonderful season for the team. Now the Bulls had 70 victories, giving them an important title in that season.

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Perhaps, Shaquille O’Neal was determined to show his allegiance and dedication to the Magic. Or maybe, he wanted not to fail his mother’s words: to face Michael Jordan. Although the Magic lost, it was not a huge one by a significant margin. It wasn’t very pleasant for the Magic management to have a player interrupt the game during the first quarter.

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