By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
NBA great Shaquille O’Neal explained why would have no problem dominating in the modern-day era of shooting big men without trying to become one himself.
“I would never shoot a three,” Shaq explained in an interview with COSMOTE TV. “All these big guys that are shooting… they wouldn’t even be in the game. Because they would have to wrestle me, they get two quick fouls. They would never shoot. And I’m gonna just get it and make easy baskets.”
Shaq was never one for 3-pointers indeed and didn’t really need them to absolutely have his way on the floor anyway. Throughout his NBA career of 19 years and 1,423 he took just 22 attempts from beyond the arc and made one of them during the first quarter of a game between his Orlando Magic against the Milwaukee Bucks in 1996.
The irony is that he took that shot just because he had the ball in his hands in the final second of the period.
Speaking of the Bucks, Giannis also talked about Giannis Antetokounmpo and whether the Milwaukee superstar would have the same impact back in his era.
“He’d have some impact,” Shaq said. “It’s different. It depends on the team you play for. Back on our time, they didn’t like us seven footers to take the ball and bringing it up court. So they probably would’ve put him at the post. He would’ve been fine because he’s lean, he’s strong, he can run fast. When I played with guys like that, I said, ‘If the ball goes up and you don’t get the rebound just run. Because one of us has to get the rebound, right? So if he played with me, I’d tell him that if he’s not close to get the rebound then run and I’m looking for him first because he can catch it and dribble…
“To answer your question, yes he could’ve made it.”
Shaq was also asked what makes separates Giannis from other stars in the league. “He plays hard all the time and he plays right right way,” O’Neal said. “When you’re a fan, you got to respect that the most. He doesn’t take days off. He’s not an arrogant player. He gets fouled, he doesn’t complain, he just works on the next play. You got to respect that. “