Not many NBA analysts are more critical of current players than Shaq is — particularly when it comes to big men.
Shaq has always held them to a higher standard. They should be physical, they should be dominant, they should be the best players on their respective teams. All because they’re bigger than everyone else. That’s how it worked for him and, if it worked for him, it can work for them.
That’s the way he sees it, anyway. That’s why he respects what Joel Embiid is doing with the 76ers so much, who is having a legitimate MVP sort of season this year.
But it’s also why he said he doesn’t respect Embiid’s “soft” partner, referring to Ben Simmons.
Shaq absolutely let Simmons have it on the set of Inside the NBA. He didn’t hold anything back and said he doesn’t respect him.
So Shaq had some things to say about Ben Simmons. pic.twitter.com/JLVAulV35T
— Brock Landes (@LandesBrock) January 28, 2022
“The other guy I don’t respect. And I’ve been thinking about it. You’re missing the whole season because they asked your coach a question – can we win without you? And your coach gave a funny answer. That should tell you, in the summertime, you need to work on your game.”
Whew, boy. That’s rough. He wasn’t done there, though. It wouldn’t be a Shaq rant if he didn’t dive into what he experienced during his playing days.
“You don’t think I haven’t been criticized by you guys and Stephen A. (Smith) and haven’t been criticized by LA media and New York media? Great players get criticized but the great players also step up to the criticism and perform.”
He had one last thing to say about Simmons before the rant was over. “This other guy, I don’t respect him. I’d get rid of him.”
Nah. Somebody has to throw Nas’ “Ether” instrumental over that. It’s only right. Shaq absolutely eviscerated Simmons here. And many fans agreed with him.