Yao vs. Shaq 2003 | Houston Rockets Rockets Cuts | Ep. 18

Episode 18 of Rockets Cuts features the much-anticipated first match-up between Yao Ming and Shaquille O'Neal in 2003. Yao blocked Shaq's first three shots, and the Rockets won an overtime thriller 108-104 in front of a record-setting TV audience.
Lakers @ Rockets | January 17, 2003
Rockets 110 Lakers 108 OT
Yao: 10 PTS | 10 REB | 6 BLK
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[@Kaleidoscope2412]

Yao was so smooth for his size, his touch and fluidity are amazing as well. How quickly some forget.

[@molemanns]

It's because he was an injury case. I don't think of it as "what could've been" Yao and T-Mac could've won a title if you do wanna ponder. Just a classic case of "too bad", the new motto

[@7_k265]

Lin was insane man linsanity was even better

[@fkai1]

All the other super big dudes are often not very good and are their only weapon is the height, but Yao Ming had skill on top which is rare.

[@Tube-bh5ud]

@@7_k265林？ 又不能和Curry、Kobe比較

[@wenmad9577]

I will never forget those beautiful moments of Yao&Shaq.

[@SleepingDrag0n]

The Big Aristotle vs the Great Wall. I miss those good old days.

[@justinliu398]

These good old days were long gone.

[@昼まで寝太郎-m6q]

Rockets and Yao Ming are memories of my youth

[@ericsigersmith6067]

Classic Walton commentary lmao

[@ErickIvanVillarreal]

怀念姚明

[@redredred407]

yeah.. 👍

[@ertugruldemir6478]

Such a beautiful days. NBA was really competition and fun. Now just long shooting.

[@renzsharp3705]

The best Era. 2000's Shaq, Yao, Tmac, Vince, Kidd, Kobe, AI, Nash, Dirk, Duncan, KG, young lebron

[@cricket-vw3wy]

Paul pierce

[@packersauburneric3625]

Nostalgic

[@hamrajsinghbedi675]

This is enough to show why despite having a long career Yao was introduced to the HOF. Lot's of respect to Yao, a career without injuries would have made his one of Great big man to play the game.

[@TsunamiMT]

after the third block, Shaq realized he wouldn't be able to play like he used to.

[@jaymule7342]

I watch those first two games and Shaq put Yao in a body bag. He had 40pts to Yao’s 6pts it was a beating by epic proportions. After 2003 Shaq was no longer the best player in the world and was on the back end of his career. Prime Shaq put Yao in a body bag though I’m just shocked that they were able to find one that big.

[@josephpan4578]

@@jaymule7342 Yao was not at his prime in 2003 you should admit that. I believe that Shaq is the most dominant center of all time and comparing Yao with him is a great appreciation of Yao. But Yao has been improving, being stronger, more skillful since he entered the league and Shaq was more struggling when he post up Yao (compared to other centers). You may want to watch Rocket 2009 playoff R1G1 vs the Blazers which tells us that Yao was unstoppable in 1 on 1 post.

[@stevenyeah9541]

@@jaymule7342 How about naming five centers that are close enough to compare with Shaq during 1992-2002?

[@troyxing8717]

DaaBoys2138 it’s was Yao’s rookie season Jesus Christ can you be more ignorant

[@stevenyeah9541]

@@troyxing8717 你作为一个中国人能不能像老外一样心平气和说话？Jesus Christ, can you speak like normal person? I just don't understand some of our Chinese people are like fighters all over the internet. What a shame.

[@barryma7065]

People forgot how good Steve was

[@michaelyan5433]

Barry Ma No，I didn't

[@paulwang5483]

I didn't. Steve still play in my 2K

[@ronaldlee7566]

westbrook before westbrook

[@lm-pw9ul]

Who?

[@calvin864]

@@lm-pw9ul steve francis

[@杜垚]

miss Yao，very skillful traditon center，love him

[@weimiaowang6774]

First NBA game I watched in my life, really miss the old days watching amazing game of Yao, Tracy, Francis etc.. always think about what will happen if Yao hasn't gotten injured in 2009...

[@Rocketsfan-fu1xo]

That was in the second round he was healthy and got thru the first.

[@cks2020693]

Yao is so much better suited for today's NBA, he was considered "too skinny" when he came to the NBA and had to put on a lot of weight and muscles to play both offensively and defensively in the low post. He had an extraordinary talent for ball handling, shooting, ballsketball IQ and footwork especially for his size, in today's era he would've dominated like Jokic

[@hectorlopez1069]

Yao Ming had a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks. Very impressive in his rookie season.

[@evanq5551]

my first NBA game, still remember watching it with my grandma

[@michaelyan5433]

I was on my way back home after school. Standing outside of the night bar for over 40mins😄

[@lifengchang4462]

I can imagine the scene

[@JohnnyJustABoy]

Michael Yan that’s good memories

[@麦老板]

I was in university in SJTU and that time supposed to be for class but I quitted, which was proved to be a right decision after so many years.

[@yisaiwu1988]

Shake hand to that, same

[@kevinmiller9760]

No more centers after Yao and Shaq

[@chengroy9405]

Let's give Dwight some credit

[@qscqsc0506]

@@chengroy9405 really doubt it

[@TheAnonapersons]

@@chengroy9405 Dwight is into cross dressers

[@majian73]

@@chengroy9405 Dwight has a great body but a lazy mind. His techniques are terrible!

[@lori460]

@@chengroy9405 Dwight cannot defeat Yao

[@raymendoza7678]

The man was so graceful and had the sweetest touch for a big shooting

[@TheIkaraCult]

I love watching their duels back, no quarter given, mano a mano, the way it should always be

[@superdannny]

i got a great amount of goosebumps watching this. beautiful game

[@zachliu3332]

I love both Yao and Shaq.

[@xuaeenr1]

Yao deserves a Hall of Fame award!

[@aozhang3065]

I can still remember how exited when I was watching this game with my friends.

[@Jeremy-yb5yo]

time flies, how old are you now if you don't mind I am asking

[@weiwang1309]

let me answer for him, 40 wt..

[@MrWillchn]

gosh, watching this in 2023 and totally miss that era. HOU was so in "going big" kind of vibe then.

[@Leo-bj3od]

Yao's humbleness worthes everyone to learn about.

[@yushuzhang1187]

Remember those day when NBA was more than shooting 3s

[@yell6375]

Now it’s about getting ur stats up.

[@bayvladimir7960]

My man Steve Francis was so flashy and athletic guard, definitely was my favorite PG of this era. His legacy lives on.

[@seanfu5523]

i know, don't know why they trade him, mobly, and 2 others for trashy mcgrady, lol

[@matthewlin2501]

​@@seanfu5523At the time people thought McGrady was as good as Kobe and AI with perhaps more potential, too bad injury ruined him. He would at least be in Kevin Durant's level without injurie

[@packersauburneric3625]

Nostalgic

[@BoyanYANG]

The remarkable feat of Yao Ming recording three blocks within the initial five minutes of play cannot be attributed solely to luck; his corresponding accomplishment of sinking three shots underscores his undeniable skill and strategic acumen on the court.

[@seyahtan24]

The perfect center was the mix of these two players. A guy who has Shaq's body but has skills like Yao Ming. Damnnn.

[@ngonhatnam131]

U mean big like Shaq tall like Yao and skill like both.

[@Joey-pb6ul]

@@ngonhatnam131 Nah, more like Shaq with the shooting touch of Yao. Can you imagine Shaq shooting turnaround fadeaways?

[@ThanosDidTheRightThing]

Joey shaq did have a very good hook shot

[@tonychen3368]

@@Joey-pb6ul Then Shaq will be unstoppable!

[@tonychen3368]

Holy cow that was beautiful to watch, RIP Kobe!

[@crappytourguide226]

Please keep these Yao videos coming!!!! This man deserves more love!

[@FooHenky]

it's crazy that it's been 20 years since this clash of titans

[@norvinzor]

Two True Big Men, Prolly Last of the True Battles in Centers History.

[@TerrenceWpg]

Wembanyama and Holmgren have potential, and they closer in age so it could be a better rivalry then Shaq and Yao.

[@colt_45.]

Man yao really couldve been a top 10 big man of all time without the injuries

[@packersauburneric3625]

Ya shame combination with mcgradys awful playoff luck & his injuries cost them a chance to win like mavericks did in 2011 imo like year yao got hurt when they went 7 games with Lakers before they got Trevor ariza like then .....

[@Originalman144]

Way more exciting matchups back then

[@Nycjacko1]

That was the most intense 1st quarter ever!

[@adamlw8303]

The generation of basketball that we enjoy watching

[@charlesyang1292]

I remember this game, so intensive, both team did a great job,

[@lioncur5707]

Yao, thank you, love you.

[@jay8235]

2:14 Yao defended so good that Shaw had to elbow Yao away lol

[@tulusjethro237]

Back when NBA still fun to watch

[@davidz7858]

you are absolutely right.

[@yushunchen5905]

See Shaq changed how he played after Yao blocked three times. Watched this game for so many times.

[@邹达-m8m]

Good old time! Yao got 10 pts but it gives an impression that he scores 20 pts. BTW, the friendship of Francis and Mobley is so good!!

[@vasilishimself9806]

"If that guy scores 20 points in the NBA I'll quit basketball" -- Shaquille O'Neal

[@raredreamfootage]

Barkley said something to that effect and he had to like wear a costume or something.

[@何鑫辉]

@@raredreamfootage Barkley kissed the donkey ass because of that. LOL

[@7_k265]

This is literally the only person shaq respects and that’s rare af

[@slashbxe2832]

he respects other people as well like ewing and hakeem but yeah it is rare to be respected by him

[@amustthatibust713]

"I tink not ma bruda" in my Olajuwon voice

[@ManuOviedo-d6b]

No problem whatsoever for Yao, injuries were the problem.

[@jiang-yunluo1202]

Nice dunk by Yao to secure the win against Lakers.

[@resrec]

I remember watching this as a kid and man those first 3 minutes were HYPE.

[@packersauburneric3625]

Same so nostalgic

[@BurtReynolds.]

I remember watching that game. Man I miss that team with mobley

[@paulwang5483]

I decided to rebuild the rockets with a roster of Yao,Steve,Cuttino,Kelvin Cato,Jimmy Jackson,Maurice Taylor,James Posey etc

[@paulwang5483]

IN MY 2K

[@m.dorukhankara4727]

@@paulwang5483 ed griff is ma mannn add him too :)

[@paulwang5483]

@@m.dorukhankara4727 RT. We shouldn't forget him.

[@laod7192]

Not many younger fans know that Yao was pretty athletic in his rookie year. Later he gained weight to function as Rocket's Shaq, which pretty much ruined his career. He could probably play another 5-10 years if not suffer from the foot injury.

[@huaijiutv]

SF and YM just had such great chemistry togerther from the get-go. They should have not split them up.

[@marilia6490]

❤Shaq ❤Shaq ❤Shaq ❤ 🎉 I love Shaquille O'Neal ❤❤❤

[@chang414]

怀念姚明

[@kevinli3555]

怀念来福吗?

[@chang414]

Kevin Li 很怀念，我觉得我好久没打他了

[@YUNGJIMMY]

喝糖水吗？

[@otto5402]

你是天生神力

[@刘大大-c3r]

你还说你不会武功？

[@LunaticRedEyeS_13]

I LOVE THIS GAME！

[@winkwong1030]

What a wonderful Game!

[@hectorlopez1069]

Steve Francis had a great game with 44 points. He was a good player for the rockets.

[@Joeharrisonzeng]

Keep going mr yaoming never give up try your yaoming❤

[@SunlitEnglish]

this is incrediable wins

[@timbershakes1469]

Steve Francis was AMAZING :V

[@donnyhuang1766]

people forget how " black hole" he was

[@ErickIvanVillarreal]

怀念姚明

[@youin24years]

donny huang PAUSE

[@fleta9432]

absolutely

[@zlwel287]

donny huang don’t get it

[@beexiong9406]

Rookie Yao Vs Prime Shaq

[@evanyeung3801]

Steve might be the best PG Yao Ming has ever played with in terms of feeding the ball to him!

[@Eric-hua]

Evan Yeunplaying with Yao. There’s only one thing you got do , pass

[@Dimaz42]

it's a show of finesse vs. brute force

[@ukyo2010]

While Shaq ultimately did outplay Yao, Shaq had to have felt humbled by Yao, with Shaq's first three shots being blocked by a ROOKIE whom he previously thought was nothing.

[@jlui21]

-- Shaq was "da fuq." Had to go Supersaiyan to dominate. Yao was one the only Center that Shaq respected in his era (outside of Ewing, Robinson, and Hakeem).

[@youngsuit]

I remember watching sports center the next morning as a young kid and one of the things they featured was how it seemed like yao's night but it was a great night for the franchise

[@srhaze7691]

Esto era la NBA no lo de ahora

[@thefamousl9043]

Those brilliant beautiful days. ❤

[@spdier-liu]

Yao Ming was really invincible at that time.

[@ReBunk]

one best of the best fight of giant on NBA

[@Shinobi33]

It took a few minutes for Shaq to realize he had to employ his whole skill set versus Yao. Couldn't just go on cruise control like versus most other centers

[@packersauburneric3625]

Ya shame combination with mcgradys awful playoff luck & his injuries cost them a chance to win like mavericks did in 2011 imo like year yao got hurt when they went 7 games with Lakers before they got Trevor ariza like then .....

[@aykel2053]

"2 GREAT CENTERS"

[@chrisl9934]

Yao's defensive discipline in this game is unreal.

[@GuiAntonioli]

Dude, they won againts Kobe + Shaq era... this is huge.

[@mp80w]

Nice game. Good job Yao and rocket teams.

[@erikbi9211]

I know T-Mac is a super star but I miss the game with Steve was with Yao, I really think they connected to each other

[@NVITE-zd9xe]

Injuries aside, Yao had potential

[@hectorlopez1069]

The first game against Shaq was Yao special moment in his NBA career.

[@pappachappa2696]

Yao is a great player!

[@keliangchan]

two great rivals on battlefield also two best friends off the field

[@NickZhang202]

yao was so fast before injury

[@packersauburneric3625]

Ya shame combination with mcgradys awful playoff luck & his injuries cost them a chance to win like mavericks did in 2011 imo like year yao got hurt when they went 7 games with Lakers before they got Trevor ariza like then .....

[@mbell7498]

I hadn't noticed before, but Rudy Tomjanovich and John Travolta look alike

[@kabenuri4255]

YAO stands out. He is more valuable than its stats.

[@yonglaihuang]

i miss those days ,,,

[@marcpanther7924]

5:08 I think it hasn't reached the peak, no?

[@56fbb2]

Yao and TMac....miss old Rockets...

[@hugohk5901]

Yao. vs Shaq was the peak battle so far in NBA.

[@Nycjacko1]

Yao and Shaq were went physical all night. Bang bang play, dunking on each other… and after the game they both shook hands.. unlike today’s NBA. LeFlop will just run to the locker room lol 😆

[@fredericchen8132]

Young Shaq v.s. Olajuwon, late Shaq v.s. Yao Ming, both players were versatile, had great footwork, smooth handling and shooting. There is some consistency in Rockets' history.

[@duncankowable]

that wasn't late Shaq. That was Prime Shaq.

[@nonoworld7290]

Yao is very wonderful!!

[@denniscool8484]

Back then I loved two 3s, AI and Steve.

[@shuhuan0329]

I saw Xi 7:05

[@DEV-7]

Good old times.

[@packersauburneric3625]

Amen

[@hardwaylearner]

so Good that Bill Wlaton got to call this matchup

[@りょりょりょ-b6s]

really miss those old times

[@MrRambee]

Yao was a fucking beast

[@miyinan]

Good old days 🎉

[@packersauburneric3625]

Amen

[@kuichen2498]

missing the old days...

[@marcelcesardasilva7781]

EPIC GAME !!!

[@nick8881]

Nice game

[@wayneyang5277]

姚鲨对决是那些年最热的词汇

[@wp65th50]

oh my god old days so pretty

[@eddelafuente2312]

Yao Ming eres muy Top 👌

[@natsudragneel4144]

Shaq would have been the GOAT if he had Yao's skill, and Yao would have been the GOAT if ha had Shaq's power

[@tonychen3368]

That's incredibly true. They'd both be going beast mode on both ends of the floor, offense, defense they had it all.

[@grantl3032]

shaq has yao's fade away and free throws, unstoppable.

[@aezagmi5075]

@@grantl3032 black steph curry

[@ErickIvanVillarreal]

怀念姚明

[@Agns713]

Yao didn't need Shaq's power to be GOAT, just needed to stay healthy. His skill set was better than Shaq's

[@澳洲觀點]

Attacks Yao Shaq needs so hard to play yo, Yao made his own history in NBA