When 7-6 Yao Ming came to the NBA, Shaquille O’ Neal was dismissive and said this on a radio show: “Tell Yao Ming, ‘Ching-chong-yang-wah-ah-so.”
It was an ugly comment and O’ Neal subsequently apologized.
It took awhile for him to realize that he hadn’t just said something deeply offensive but that Yao was a man worthy of respect (he learned along the way that a younger Yao had written him fan letters. Even his father chastised him for his comments).
Eventually the two became fast friends and were inducted into the Hall of Fame in the same class.