It’s not often you see Shaquille O’Neal shy away from bold takes, but his latest comparison might ruffle a few feathers in the NBA world-especially with Steph Curry. The Hall of Famer, who has always been outspoken about the WNBA, made headlines once again after praising Caitlin Clark, drawing a direct comparison between the rookie sensation and the reigning king of three-pointers, Steph Curry. However, in typical Shaq fashion, this was more than just a compliment-it sparked a new debate.
In the middle of yet another heated conversation with fellow TNT commentator Charles Barkley, O’Neal steered the conversation into unexpected territory. Barkley, as usual, had his own take, ranting about the so-called “jealousy” surrounding Caitlin Clark’s rise in the WNBA. Shaq, on the other hand, wasn’t biting. While Barkley pointed fingers, O’Neal stood firmly in the corner of Angel Reese, his LSU compatriot, but couldn’t resist dropping a bombshell praise for Clark.
Shaq’s admiration for Clark reached new heights after he attended his first WNBA game this season, watching Angel Reese debut the Reebok basketball shoe and Clark light up the court. Sitting courtside, O’Neal witnessed firsthand the Indiana Fever star drop 27 points against the Chicago Sky, leaving the 7-foot legend visibly impressed. But it wasn’t just her scoring prowess that caught his attention-it was her uncanny ability to shoot from long range, something Shaq couldn’t help but compare to the NBA’s three-point maestro.
Shaq get smacked when he appeared on the the jumbotron
“When I see stuff on TV, it’s one thing,” Shaq said in an interview with USA Today. “But when I saw her live… she’s got that Steph Curry range. She’s making all the right plays, getting everyone involved. She’s the real deal.” A comment like that coming from one of the most dominant forces in NBA history carries weight, and it didn’t take long for fans to run wild with the comparison. But there’s one person who might not be too thrilled with it: Steph Curry himself.
Curry has long been the gold standard for perimeter shooting, and while he has acknowledged Clark’s talents in the past, he’s been careful to downplay direct comparisons. In an interview earlier this year, Curry expressed that focusing solely on Clark’s shooting could overshadow the rest of her all-around game. “She’s much more than just a shooter,” Curry said. “She’s a floor general. She racks up near triple-doubles every night. The shooting’s her superpower, but there’s so much more to her game.”
O’Neal’s bold comparison sparks debate online
It’s no secret that Curry has been hesitant to see Clark boxed into the “next Steph” narrative. So when Shaq doubled down on that comparison, one could imagine Curry feeling a bit uneasy. Yet, fans are loving the discourse, eagerly dissecting the implications of Shaq’s bold statement. For O’Neal, this wasn’t about choosing sides-it was about recognizing greatness, and perhaps, as he later admitted, a touch of professional jealousy.
Shaq’s loyalty to Angel Reese, of course, remains unwavering. Despite Reese’s injury sidelining her for the remainder of the season, O’Neal has made it clear he sees her as a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year. However, after watching both Reese and Clark up close, Shaq now concedes the race is tighter than ever. “I’ve seen both of them play, and honestly, I can’t call it,”O’Neal said. “They’re both special.“
Naturally, this didn’t sit well with Barkley, who couldn’t resist stirring the pot. In a recent episode of Inside the NBA, Barkley criticized the WNBA, claiming the league was suffering from “petty jealousy” surrounding Clark’s rapid rise. Shaq, always quick with a rebuttal, didn’t mince words in defending both Clark and Reese, while adding his own confession: “Yeah, I’m jealous. Professionally jealous. Of Steph, of Caitlin. I mean, Steph makes $60 million! Who wouldn’t be?”
For Shaq, the envy doesn’t stop at the paycheck. He’s openly admitted that Curry and Clark’s shooting skills are something he could only dream of. With a career marked by struggles at the free-throw line, O’Neal often finds himself at the center of these conversations. Yet, in typical Shaq fashion, he brushes it off with humor and humility.“Look, Chuck can talk all he wants about hating,” Shaq quipped. “It’s not hate-it’s just life. You deal with it.”
As the debate rages on, one thing is certain: Shaq’s words have once again stirred the pot, and this time, he may have brought Steph Curry into the fray. Whether Curry responds or not, the sports world is buzzing, and Caitlin Clark’s rising star just got a little brighter, with O’Neal’s honest admission fueling the fire.
