THIRTY-ONE YEARS SEPARATED two Game 7 postgame huddles, each just after the buzzer of epic conference finals.
In both, a generational big man and former No. 1 pick was filled with emotion after surviving a seven-game series, having just led a group of players with no playoff experience together into the Finals in just his third season.
More than three decades ago, it was Shaquille O'Neal with his massive arms pulling Dennis Scott, Anthony Avent and, surprisingly, mascot Stuff the Magic Dragon in, celebrating the Orlando Magic's victory over the Indiana Pacers in a grueling 1995 Eastern Conference finals.
Just last week, Victor Wembanyama wrapped his long arms around Stephon Castle, Carter Bryant and Keldon Johnson as he led the San Antonio Spurs over two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
The one difference: The Spurs' celebration in OKC was in front of stunned silence.
Back inside the long-since-razed O-rena in 1995, Magic fans basked in the sounds of Jock Jams as streamers flew.
Each player was an imposing figure whom the NBA had never seen before. Each had lifted their youthful teams to the precipice of NBA glory.
Because of that, Wembanyama and O'Neal are linked at this juncture of their careers despite their 30-year removal from each other.
"He's Shaq," one veteran NBA head coach said of Wembanyama. "He eats clean, worries about how his water is filtered and doesn't break backboards like Shaq did, but he presents the same problem. None of us know what the hell we're going to do to stop him."