About
The phrase “I Owe You an Apology. I Wasn’t Really Familiar With Your Game” paired with an image of Shaquille O’Neal has become a popular image macro online. This reaction meme is predominantly used to humorously apologize to individuals, particularly in sports, who have exceeded expectations or proven doubters wrong.
Origin of the Apology
The origin of this meme traces back to a post-game interview on January 14th, 2021, following an NBA game between the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets. Houston Rockets player Christian Wood delivered an impressive performance, scoring 27 points. Shaquille O’Neal, a former basketball legend turned analyst, interviewed Wood after the game. In a moment of candid humility, O’Neal admitted to Wood, “I wasn’t really familiar with your game,” seemingly apologizing for underestimating Wood’s abilities. Wood playfully responded by calling Shaq a “casual,” adding to the humorous exchange.
The interaction quickly went viral. Twitter user @r0bato was among the first to share a clip[1] of the exchange, which gained traction. Shortly after, NBA news account @TheNBACentral also tweeted[2] the clip, amplifying its reach significantly.
Christian Wood called Shaq a ‘casual’ in his postgame interview lmaaooo pic.twitter.com/hs0e3HC2DE
— Rob Lopez (@r0bato) January 15, 2021
Later the same day, Instagram account @theScore capitalized on the moment by posting a two-panel image macro of the exchange, further solidifying the visual association of Shaq’s quote with the apology meme format.
Shaquille O'Neal saying "I wasn't really familiar with your game" to Christian Wood in a two-panel image macro.
Spread of the “Wasn’t Familiar With Your Game” Reaction
While the origin is dated to early 2021, the “I wasn’t familiar with your game” macro didn’t truly take off as a widespread reaction image until 2022. One of the earliest examples of its use as a reaction was on May 7th, 2022, by Twitter user @SorokaPlsHeal[3]. However, it was a tweet on July 1st, 2022, by @LALeBron23[4] about basketball analyst Brian Windhorst that propelled the meme into broader circulation. This tweet garnered significant attention, marking a turning point for the meme’s popularity.
Twitter reaction meme using "I Owe You an Apology. I WASN" with baseball player and text "IOWE YOU AN APOLOGY. I WASN".
Throughout the latter half of 2022, the reaction image became increasingly common, particularly within sports fan communities. It served as a humorous way to acknowledge and apologize for underestimating athletes or teams who performed exceptionally well.
The meme’s popularity also led to creative variations and edits. In October 2022, a recaptioned version emerged, twisting the phrase to “You owe me an apology, you tricked me,” expressing a sense of playful betrayal. Around the same time, a reversed version, “You can’t fool me. I am familiar with your game,” also began circulating[5], offering a contrasting sentiment of confidence and foresight.
Recaptioned meme "You owe me an apology, you tricked me" with Shaquille O'Neal image.
Reverse meme "YOU CAN'T FOOL ME. I AM FAMILIAR WITH YOUR GAME" with Shaquille O'Neal image.
Examples of “I Wasn’t Familiar With Your Game” in Use
The versatility of the “I wasn’t familiar with your game” meme is evident in its wide range of applications. It’s used across various contexts to express humorous apologies for underestimations. Here are a few examples showcasing its adaptability:
Meme example with text "Me to Kylian Mbappe: I OWE YOU AN APOLOGY. I WASN".
Meme example with text "Man United fans to Messi after years of calling Ronaldo the GOAT IOWE YOU AN APOLOGY. I WASN".
Meme example with text "Deshaun Watson seeing the Antonio Brown pool video FF IOWE YOU AN APOLOGY. I WASN".
Meme example with text "FF I OWE YOU AN APOLOGY. I WASN" with Shaquille O'Neal image.
Meme example with text "Embiid seeing Chet miss his whole rookie year: FF I OWE YOU AN APOLOGY. I WASN".
Meme example with text "i IOWE YOU AN APOLOGY. I WASN" with Shaquille O'Neal image and Nicki Minaj.
Template
For those looking to create their own iterations, a template of the meme is readily available online, allowing for customized captions and applications.
In Conclusion
The “I wasn’t familiar with your game” meme, born from a lighthearted and genuine moment between Shaquille O’Neal and Christian Wood, has evolved into a versatile and humorous reaction across the internet. Its relatability lies in the universal experience of underestimation and the satisfying surprise of witnessing someone exceed expectations. The meme continues to be a relevant and funny way to offer a public, often tongue-in-cheek, apology in the face of unexpected success.
External References
[1] Twitter – @r0bato
[2] Twitter – @TheNBACentral
[3] Twitter – SorokaPlsHeal
[4] Twitter – @LALeBron23
[5] Twitter – @Bucketized
