Shaquille O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning recently discussed how they handled Miami Heat coach Pat Riley's tough rules
One of the most legendary aspects of Miami Heat team president Pat Riley's career is his commitment to fitness.
He was, and still is, known for pushing players to the limits. If you've followed the NBA long enough, you know about the workouts he put players through. It was welcomed by some. It was met with resistance by others.
A pair of Heat legends recently shared stories of how they dealt with the tremendous pressure. Hall of Famers Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille O'Neal chopped it up on an episode of The Big Podcast about how they handled it.
O'Neal's approach was simple: he tried to avoid it as much as possible. This was especially true when Riley conducted body-fat tests.
“Let me tell you what he used to do on body fat days," Mourning said. "He used to put baby oil all on his body so the strength coach couldn't pinch his fat and do the body fat test. That was his strategy.”
It's obviously true because O'Neal said nothing to dispute it while sitting next to Mourning. O'Neal, meanwhile, was overly complimentary of how Mourning aced every physical challenge. Mourning was known as the ultimate workout warrior during his playing days.
“He looked like a He-Man doll," O'Neal said. "He used to come out of the shower and we be like, ‘Hey man, put your shirt on show off.”
Even though both players had different approaches to the extreme training, they had similar success. Mourning led the Heat to their first appearance in the Eastern Conference finals in 1997. They lost to the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls but it was an indicator of Riley having his teams ready.
O'Neal then helped Dwyane Wade lead the Heat to their first NBA championship when they defeated the Dallas Mavericks in 2006 in six games. The fact Mourning returned to become a member of that team made it even more special.
The Heat recently acquired two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks. He is one of the most physically-gifted players in the league, so the chances of him struggling in Riley's strength program are slim.
MORE MIAMI HEAT NEWS
LeBron James spurns Heat to play for 76ers
Should Miami Heat move Nikola Jovic in trade?
Ex-Heat star Chris Bosh gives latest update on his health
Join the Community
Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news! It's completely free to join, simply by clicking the yellow button at the top of the homepage. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP and stay even more connected!
Shandel Richardson is the publisher of HeatRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected]
