This is one of the major reasons for O'Neal's deficiencies in character: he has never competed against players stronger than himself.
He is always taller and stronger than everyone else, and by a wide margin. On the court, he is always the most imposing figure.
All the plays for him are theoretically in his favor; no one can withstand him. He doesn't have to struggle in adversity, never needs to think about "winning with fewer, conquering the strong with the weak," that's a problem for others to consider.
As a result, O'Neal lacks some resilience on the court, while off the court, he exhibits a lot of flamboyance and playfulness, mixed with a giant's sense of inferiority, which when magnified, often leads to emotional outcomes.
The last person similar to O'Neal was Wilt Chamberlain, who had the same godlike power and was also a leviathan on the court, far exceeding others in physique and strength.
