The learning curve for rookies in the NBA is steep and can be treacherous at times. Regardless of how skilled a young player is, they soon realize how different the big leagues are, often through rough, physical lessons from veterans who have called the NBA home for a long time.
One player who went through a baptism of fire was Raymond Felton . A 14-year pro who played for seven teams, Felton reminisced on "Run It Back" about how Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal taught him to either develop an effective floater or risk getting hurt every time he drove to the rim.
Felton was a bona fide NCAA standout, having starred at the University of North Carolina and winning an NCAA title in 2005. A 6'1" guard, he recalled still having some bounce during his rookie season and dared to test Shaq's defense.
"When I first got in the league, you know, I still can jump a little bit. I can still play above the rim," Felton narrated . "And yeah, Shaquille O'Neal—Big Shaq—let me know that, you know, you better learn a floater, young fella, before you think you about to keep coming in here."
Equipped with the youthful exuberance of a wide-eyed 21-year-old, Raymond thought he could bring down the thunder on Shaquille and immediately found out how foolish he was to even think of such a notion.
"So I go to the basket thinking I was going to catch Shaq at the rim," he recalled. "I mean, Shaq put me straight on my back out of midair and then stepped over me and told me, 'Welcome to the league.' And they didn't even call a foul. Didn't even call a foul."
"He literally knocked me out of the air, I fell on my back, and he stepped right over me and said, 'Welcome to the league.'"
Getting checked by Shaq wasn't the only thing that Ray experienced during his rookie year. He also recalled getting schooled by savvy guards, Andre Miller and Sam Cassell. Although these two weren't blazing fast or possessed nuclear athleticism, what they had was a keen mastery of how to get things done.
"Andre Miller was one of the most underrated point guards that ever played this game. That man was a bucket and a problem. Man put me in the post, did whatever he wanted to do with me," Felton shared . "Man, I was so mad. That man was strong. That man could score that ball. He was crafty."
Felton's experience defending Cassell was even more frustrating as the latter gave him an account of what he was going to do before actually doing it.
"Sam Cassell scored 15 straight on me, bro, and was talking to me while he was doing it. How disrespectful is that?" Felton divulged, laughing at the memory. "He was talking to me—' Hey, young fella, hey, hey, hey, young fella, don't worry about it. You can't do nothing about it.' Talking to me as he scoring, telling me what he about to do, talking to me, giving me advice. This man was giving me buckets and helping me at the same time."
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
