Tag: shaquille o’neal

Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t impressed with Team USA winning the gold medal

Lakers great Shaquille O’Neal seems disappointed with how Team USA played in the Olympics and felt it should’ve been much more dominant.

Although it looked vulnerable and/or complacent at times, Team USA men’s basketball took home yet another Olympic gold medal this summer. LeBron James, along with Stephen Curry and others, led the way with some excellent all-around play and was named the MVP of men’s basketball competition.

The United States certainly had a few hiccups, and it came dangerously close to losing a couple of times. Most notably, it nearly lost an exhibition game to South Sudan, a vastly inferior squad, before James’ game-winning layup saved the day and ensured a 101-100 win.

Then in the semifinal round versus Nikola Jokić and Serbia, Team USA trailed by double-digits in the fourth quarter, only to come back and claim a 95-91 victory.

Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal was asked on his podcast “The Big Podcast” about how Jayson Tatum was benched at one point in the Olympics. He then implied that he was disappointed by how the United States played overall by referencing that near-disaster versus South Sudan.

“I’m not even paying attention to the Olympics,” said O’Neal “… I have a dominant personality. I don’t care how you are, whatever, my cousin Kenny just had this argument upstairs. My cousin said, ‘The world is getting close’ but I don’t think it is. The fact that [USA Basketball won] 97-95, you only beat South Sudan by one [possession]. Come on, bro. That’s never supposed to happen.”

The big fella played for Team USA in the 1994 FIBA World Championship and in the 1996 Olympics, winning gold medals both times. Back then, the level of competition in international basketball was much lower than it is in the modern era.

While the United States continues to have a majority of the world’s best basketball players, it has gotten to the point where Team USA cannot get away with a lack of effort or complacency if it is to emerge victorious and win the gold.

One has to wonder if it was a bit complacent when it narrowly defeated South Sudan and Serbia.

Which Boston Celtics alum is the NBA’s biggest career earner from Newark, New Jersey?

There are multiple Celtics alumni hailing from this city, so it could trip you up.

Which Boston Celtics alum is the NBA’s biggest career earner from Newark, New Jersey? On one hand, this player is among the NBA’s greatest of all time and a massive presence in league history, so he should be fairly easy to guess. But on the other, there are multiple Celtics alumni hailing from this city, so it could still trip you up.

If you did not find yourself guessing the Big Aristotle (or any of his many nicknames), we’ll spill the beans for you. Shaquille O’Neal is the top earner all-time from Newark with a total of $292,198,327 in career earnings per HoopsHype.

A ways behind him is Bam Adebayo with $105,071,112, but the Miami Heat big man could catch Shaq one day if the league’s salaries keep going up as they have been in recent years.

The final three include Kenneth Faried with $56,898,674 earned to date, former Boston forward Eric Williams with $39,835,520 career earnings, and we can claim Randy Foye and his $34,106,401 in salary earned in the NBA if you squint.

Foye was drafted by Boston and traded away that same night.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Every Boston Celtics player appearance on ‘Shaqtin’a Fool’ since 2011

Watch the clip to see the worst (or at least the funniest) of the Celtics over the last decade and a year.

While it might not be an honor to appear on former Boston Celtics big man Shaquille O’Neal‘s “Shaqtin a Fool” segment on TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” a fair number of Boston players making a guest appearance over the years. The segment, for the uninitiated, is effectively the blooper reel of the dumbest, funniest or weirdest things Shaq and company caught on video that week.

Now, YouTuber and Celtics fan videographer Danielle Hobeika put together an all-time compilation of when Celtics players made the show. The list includes Rajon Rondo, Mikael Pietrus, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Kris Humphries, Vitor Faverani, Kelly Olynyk, Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier, Al Horford, Gerald Green, Jayson Tatum, Daniel Theis, Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, and Glen “Big Baby” Davis.

Watch the clip embedded below to see the worst of Boston over the last decade and a year — and try not to drink anything while you watch it.

Check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Boston Celtics big man alum Shaquille O’Neal named among ESPN’s top 20 athletes of 21st century

When it comes to the top 100 athletes of the 21st century, former Boston Celtics big man Shaquille O’Neal is one of them in the eyes of ESPN.

When it comes to the top 100 athletes of the 21st century, former Boston Celtics big man Shaquille O’Neal is one of them in the eyes of ESPN. Clocking in at No. 17 overall in the first edition of their recent top-100 list, O’Neal was a member of the Celtics organization in the 2010-11 NBA season, hoping to pick up another ring with Boston’s penultimate title crew.

Alas, injuries to Shaq and fellow Celtics kept that from happening, but we still get to claim the Big Aristotle regardless. And as to what got him such a lofty perch in ESPN’s rankings is explained at length by Dave McMenamin.

“When Phil Jackson took a then 27-year-old O’Neal out to dinner during training camp ahead of the 1999-2000 Lakers season, the Zen Master challenged the center with a lofty objective,” writes McMenamin.

That objective — to not only earn that season’s MVP award, but to do it so often and well the award would be re-named after him — appeared to strike a chord. “O’Neal went on to win three MVPs during the ensuing campaign,” adds the ESPN writer.

“The league never named the trophy after O’Neal, but he did pick up the moniker “Most Dominant Ever,” which isn’t a bad consolation prize.” 

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Boston big man alum Shaquille O’Neal on why he’s been such a goofball

In a word, marketing.

While the Hall of Fame big man Shaquille O’Neal might not have been the only player to use them, the antics that made the former Boston Celtics big man famous were revolutionary at the time that the Big Aristotle came into the league.

Asked about why he was okay with being such a massive goofball on and off the basketball court in a 2016 interview with ESPN’s J.A. Adande, Shaq replied “Marketing,” Now, many years later, O’Neal is seen as one of pro sports’ greatest businessmen, so he may have been ahead of his time. “For one, it was to prove to my college professor that big guys could sell,” the big man elaborated.

“And two, they were giving that money away, right and left,” he continued.

“And three, it was an opportunity for me, a young guy from the projects, a medium-level juvenile delinquent, to be on TV,” said Shaq. “It’s a great feeling, to have your momma at the crib, seeing you on a commercial.”

“Forget the game, but just seeing you in a commercial or a video … that’s why I did it.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Why Shaquille O’Neal thinks Spurs icon Tim Duncan is the greatest power forward of all time

‘Nothing could break him,’ said Shaq.

If Hall of Fame center Shaquille O’Neal says Tim Duncan is the greatest power forward of all time, who are we to argue? The big Aristotle knows his frontcourt foes as well as anyone, and his personal experiences battling with Old Man Riverwalk are the foundation of that take.

Shaq shared that glowing praise in honor of Duncan’s exit from the game, and explained it wasn’t just height, girth, or counting stats that formed his take on Tim. “”Greatest power forward of all time,” said O’Neal of the San Antonio legend on the news of Duncan’s retirement from the game as a player breaking.

“Unbreakable power forward. No (elbow) could break him,” he added. “No loss of a championship could break him. Nothing could break him.”

“You know how I played: I tried to intimidate guys and ‘bow guys, but none of that ever fazed him,” added Shaq.

“As far as giving me problems, he’s right behind Hakeem Olajuwon. Not because of his moves. Because of his mind.”

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Three Lakers made ESPN’s list of the top 20 athletes of the 21st century

The Lakers have won six NBA titles since 2000, so it’s no wonder three of their superstars made ESPN’s top 25 list of the 21st century.

The Los Angeles Lakers have as storied a history as just about any other pro sports team, and while the Boston Celtics have just surpassed them in total NBA championships, they still have an argument as the most successful basketball team ever.

While 11 of the Celtics’ 18 titles were won prior to 1970, at a time when there were no more than 14 teams in the league, the Lakers have done most of their winning in modern times. Eleven of their 17 world championships have been won since 1980, with six of them coming in the 21st century.

They won those six most recent Larry O’Brien Trophies thanks to the incredible talents of Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James.

On Thursday, ESPN named its top athletes of the 21st century across all sports. Swimmer Michael Phelps, who won an incredible 23 Olympic gold medals, took the top spot, with tennis legend Serena Williams right behind him.

Where did Bryant, O’Neal and James rank on this list?

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Shaquille O’Neal says LeBron James should take a major step back offensively

Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal feels LeBron James shouldn’t be the No. 1, or even the No. 2, scoring option on the Purple and Gold.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ roster right now looks almost identical to the one they finished the 2023-24 season with. They have made no outside additions this offseason in either free agency or via trade, other than signing draft picks Dalton Knecht and Bronny James.

It has greatly disappointed many Lakers fans and led them to predict doom and gloom for the team. It looks likely that as a result, LeBron James will yet again have to carry a big load going into his 22nd NBA season.

On his podcast, Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal said that James should take a major step back offensively. He feels James shouldn’t even be the No. 2 offensive option — he said the 39-year-old should, at best, be the team’s third-leading scorer (h/t Lakers Daily).

“If I was LeBron, being that I already have all the records, I would pass it to A.D.,” O’Neal said. “I would demand A.D. — ’cause listen, LeBron can still do what he do, but, ‘I don’t need to have the ball all the time. I don’t need to score all the points. So, A.D. I need you to score all the points. Austin Reaves, you can be No. 2. I can just be the old Magic Johnson-style point guard and keep everybody involved and just keep this thing going.’”

During the 2019-20 season, James did play the point guard position full time and got everyone involved, and he even led the NBA in assists per game that year. But he still averaged 25.3 points per game, which was only slightly below his career scoring average.

Playing point guard, bringing the ball upcourt, creating pace and facilitating a team’s set offense when the game slows down is very taxing, especially for someone with the type of insane wear and tear that James has. Perhaps it would be better for him to play off the ball more often on the wing and save his ball-handling and facilitating for important stretches of games and the playoffs.

James did, at times, play off the ball this past season, but he still averaged 8.3 assists a game. Davis showed more initiative and aggressiveness during the 2023-24 campaign, but while Reaves raised his game a bit, he likely doesn’t have the talent or skill to be the No. 2 scorer on a good or great team.

Whether O’Neal likes it or not, James will likely continue to score lots of points this coming season unless his game suddenly falls off a cliff.

Shaq doesn’t think the Boston Celtics will repeat

His reasoning seems to forget the health of the Celtics for most of the postseason.

Hall of Fame big man Shaquille O’Neal may have been a member of the Boston Celtics, but that does not mean he is a regular imbiber of the proverbial green Kool-Aid. In fact, if anything, he may be closer to former Celtics champion center Kendrick Perkins in his frequent skepticism of his former ball club — even after they won a title in their most recent iteration.

The Big Aristotle is skeptical that Boston will repeat as champs in 2024, and not just because winning a title under any circumstances is very, very hard. The reason, per Shaq on his semi-eponymous podcast? Because “even though they have the championship … Boston had it easy.”

“It’s not their fault, I don’t care, they won,” he added, referring to the fact that other teams had a key player out injured in every round (while ignoring that the Celtics did as well).

“Their road was too easy,” he claimed, evidently forgetting about the league-best record Boston assembled in the regular season as well. “So, when their road stiffens up, and they don’t win, then that statement will be verified.”

A hot take on Shaq’s part, perhaps, but that is what analysts do to keep eyes on them, which he himself admits. “You know how us haters and us commentators do,” he said. “Okay, you got one, win two!”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Shaq has a bone to pick with a certain Celtics assistant coach not getting head coaching gigs

The Big Aristotle stuck up for another Celtics alum who is currently an assistant with the team he won a title with in 2008.

When it comes to the Los Angeles Lakers hiring former NBAer and popular podcaster JJ Redick to be their next head coach this offseason, the move was seen as a solid one by and large. But not everyone thinks the hire was the best move the Lakers could have made — and the reasoning has little to do with any shortcomings on Redick’s part, at least directly.

We are talking about former Boston Celtics center and Lakers champion Shaquille O’Neal, who recently made a point of sticking up for another Celtics alum who is currently an assistant with the team he won a title with in 2008.

“It makes it look crazy that a guy with no experience can overshadow a guy like Sam Cassell who’s been in the league 15 years,” said the Big Aristotle on a recent episode of his “Big Podcast with Shaq” show.

“No disrespect to JJ, but I think Sam should also be able to get the same looks,” added O’Neal. “But I’m happy for JJ.”

“Lot of pressure — winning games will not be good enough,” he added. “Expectation when you take that job, when you take the Miami Heat job, when you take a job where there’s a lot of talent, the expectation is to win championships.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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