SHAQUILLE O’Neal revealed he’s jealous watching modern-day NBA centers knock down 3-pointer after 3-pointer.
The Los Angeles Lakers icon and Inside the NBA analyst said he’s a big fan of Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Victor Wembanyama, who can pose a threat downtown and play like traditional bigs.
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“I’m jealous of them,” Shaq, 52, told Draymond Green in your podcast when the Golden State Warriors icon mentioned the three NBA stars as examples of central stars in today’s game.
“I wish I could go out and shoot the three of them, brother.
“Do you know why I call myself Black Steph Curry? Because if I go to the gym and miss 190 freaking threes and make one, I’m Black Steph Curry.
“That idiot is good at going out and shooting those three, bro.”
Jokic, Embiid and Wembanyama shot at least 32.5% from 3 on no fewer than 2.9 attempts per game during the 2023-24 NBA regular season.
Meanwhile, Shaq has made just one triple in 22 attempts in his Hall of Fame career.
O’Neal stressed that “jealousy” doesn’t mean he’s “envious” of modern big men’s ability to shoot 3-pointers.
Instead, it motivates you to get on the court and try to shoot triples every now and then.
“I’m jealous of them because I wish I could do that,” the 7-foot-1 retired Lakers legend continued.
In his playing days, Shaq would raise eyebrows by going coast-to-coast, a standard transition play for bigs these days, the Inside the NBA star added to emphasize how the center’s role has changed.
“I really like these three guys [Jokic, Embiid, and Wembanyama]” said O’Neal.
“Any other big guys, I’m not really feeling it.”
Shaq also rejected the idea that he has a personal vendetta against the successful centers who came after him, which is often suggested when he criticizes them on Inside the NBA.
“I don’t hate all big guys, I just don’t like big guys who don’t play like big guys,” he said.
Inside the future of the NBA?
The operation of the NBA on TNT Sports is in great doubt due to the NBA’s broadcast agreements.
The Emmy-winning sports show is a fan favorite thanks to the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley.
But TNT’s broadcast deal with the NBA ends after next season and NBC appears poised to take over those rights in a $2.6 billion deal.
If TNT loses its NBA package, it will raise serious questions about the popular Inside the NBA.
One solution could be to recreate the show on another network, which would snatch the rights from the NBA.
Later during the show, O’Neal addressed Green’s run inside the NBA during the 2024 playoffs.
And the 2000 MVP said he was happy to see the Warriors star join the TNT panel.
“I think the reason they hired you [is] You’re very smart,” Shaq told Green.
“You are definitely one of us. You know how to make jokes.
“You and Charles [Barkley]Also, you guys make me roll.
“Welcome to the team. I’m glad you’re here.”
Shaq also talked about his early fights on Inside the NBA.
The Lakers icon revealed that TNT executives threatened to fire him if he didn’t start being himself on the show.
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