Shaquille O’Neal, the Hall of Fame center known for his no-nonsense approach to the game, has never been shy about sharing his opinions.
Recently, O’Neal’s comments about New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson’s impressive performance have stirred up controversy among NBA fans.
Zion Williamson humiliates Dillon Brooks on the court and mic during the game
Shaq wants more from zion
Williamson posted a triple-double on Tuesday night in the Pelicans’ 127-120 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists, and one block.
The performance, which marked his second career triple-double, has come on the heels of a series of injury setbacks.
Many viewed the performance as a significant milestone for Williamson as he continues to get back to form after missing much of the early season.
Despite the positive attention surrounding the 23-year-old’s resurgence, O’Neal wasn’t impressed.
On TNT’s broadcast, as analysts Adam Lefkoe and Candace Parker praised Zion’s game, O’Neal dismissed it.
“You giving him props for that? I need more. Yeah, I need more. Twenty? I need 26, 27. I demand from my franchise player you’re paying the max. Don’t be giving props for 20 points. Anybody can get 20 points now,” O’Neal remarked, downplaying the significance of Williamson’s performance.
While some agreed with O’Neal’s high standards for elite players, many fans weren’t having it.
“Shaq takes hating to new levels. Zion had a triple-double. That’s always an impressive night,” one fan wrote.
Another commented, “In the span of 24 hours, Shaq has managed to hate on the Pistons because ‘they’re not winning a championship’ and Zion because he had a 20-point triple-double instead of a 30-point triple-double. NBA media will be a better place when Shaquille O’Neal is not in it.”
Some fans even drew comparisons to O’Neal’s past praise of lesser-known players.
“If Bol Bol put up the same Zion stat line, Shaq would call him MVP,” one critic added, referring to the Phoenix Suns’ center who has garnered O’Neal’s admiration in the past.
Others simply expressed their frustration with the criticism.
“Shaq, are you good? This is a good stat line; he impacted the game on both sides of the floor… Just say good game and keep it pushing,” one viewer remarked.
As the Pelicans continue to fight for a playoff spot, it seems unlikely that Zion Williamson’s performance, no matter how remarkable, will be enough to satisfy the critics in O’Neal’s camp this season.
