Shaquille O’Neal, known as one of the most dominant forces in NBA history, recently shared his thoughts on rising San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.
Shaq, who dominated the court with his unstoppable inside game, questioned whether Wembanyama‘s jump-shot-heavy style can truly lead to dominance in the league.
Victor Wembanyama shows no mercy on these kids in a basketball exhibition
“Wemby is a great player,” Shaq began, acknowledging the talent of the 7’5 rookie. “But I don’t really think you can be dominant when you shoot jumpers a lot.
“I think if he was an inside player at 7’5, the answer would be yes, but when you shoot jumpers, you’re always going to go up and down.”
O’Neal, whose career thrived on overpowering opponents in the paint, expressed some skepticism about Wembanyama‘s reliance on perimeter shooting.
“Despite his critique, he wished the young Spurs player well in his career,” Shaq added, hinting at the continued relevance of his legacy among NBA big men.
“He’s a fine player, and I wish him well. I’m just glad, after not being in the league for so long, to still have my name in that category.”
Shaq‘s candid critique of Wembanyama highlights the ongoing discussion about what it takes to be dominant in today’s NBA.
Whether Wembanyama‘s unique style of play will lead him to the kind of success Shaq once enjoyed remains to be seen, but the comments have certainly stirred the conversation about the evolution of the modern big man.
Shaq names worst player in NBA
While O’Neal‘s comments are sure to spark debate, this isn’t the first time he’s made waves with his strong opinions.
In a recent appearance on GOAT Talk, Shaq also shared his controversial pick for the worst player in the NBA, further showcasing his unfiltered approach to discussing basketball matters.
“Rudy Gobert,”O’Neal declared.
“You know why? If you sign a contract for [$250 million], show me 250. There’s a reason why I walk funny and why I can’t turn my neck… because I played for my [$120 million contract I signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996].
“So you got guys like him that f***ing the system over. They’re making all this money and they can’t fucking play. So I don’t respect guys like that.”
