Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, left, and Shaquille O'Neal (Kevin Mazur / Getty Images / File)
"Hey, I want to tell Shaq, I asked for you specifically this evening because you felt that I was shaming you or ignoring you and that would never be the case," Abdul-Jabbar said. "And you showed them what you were all about, the way you crushed all the centers in the league for a couple of years there. So, I'm on your side, Shaq, don't ever let anybody tell you anything different."
KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR ADDRESSES LACK OF RELATIONSHIP WITH LEBRON JAMES: ‘I BLAME MYSELF’
Shaq responded by telling Abdul-Jabbar that he’s never taken issue with him before.
"Hey, listen, you not speaking to me was the best thing to happen to my career because all I wanted to do was impress you, sir," Shaq said. "I will never ever have beef with the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. You will never have to worry about that."
"I love you, too, and I want you guys to keep on impressing the whole world with our game. It’s a wonderful game," Abdul-Jabbar said before finishing the interview.
Shaq went on to explain during the broadcast that the root of the supposed conflict came from his belief that Abdul-Jabbar never acknowledged him.
"I’m not a sensitive guy, but he would never look at me, would never talk to me. So, I thought he didn’t like me. But I’m the type, I don’t get sensitive. ‘OK, you not going talk to me? Watch this.’ So, it just [carried on]."
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, left, and Shaquille O'Neal hug as the Los Angeles Lakers unveil the Shaquille O'Neal statue on March 24, 2017, at Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) in Los Angeles. (Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE via Getty Images)
Shaq said he used it as motivation during his career but Abdul-Jabbar once approached him to settle things.
"About four years ago, he pulled me to the side and said, ‘Man, I read an article where you said I don’t like you. That’s not true, I love you.’ And he gave me a big hug, and ever since then we’ve been very close."
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, left, and Shaquille O'Neal have gotten closer over the last few years. (Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE via Getty Images / File)
Abdul-Jabbar also wrote about his rocky relationship with James in a Substack article published Wednesday in which he seemingly took responsibility.
"LeBron said we don’t have a relationship. He’s right — and for that I blame myself," he wrote. "Not for anything I did, but perhaps for not making more of an effort to reach out to him. By nature, I have never been a chummy, reaching-out kind of guy (as the media was always quick to point out). I’m quiet, shy and am such a devoted homebody that you’d think I have agoraphobia."
Abdul-Jabbar also wrote that he was "thrilled" James broke his record.
Fox News’ Joe Morgan contributed to this report.