Shaquille O’Neal may be sitting behind a desk now, but there was a time where he was the most powerful force in the NBA.
Whether in Orlando, L.A., or Miami, Shaq was not a guy to be messed with, and not just because of his size. When tested, he fought back and wasn’t afraid to make a statement against his opponents.
So, it was really no surprise when he sided with Nikola Jokic regarding the altercation with Markieff Morris on Monday.
On “Inside the NBA,” O’Neal explained his position, remaining the world of what he would have done in that situation:
“I like that the Joker did. It’s called retaliation. First of all, when you hit me, don’t turn around ’cause I’m swinging. Do not turn around because you either gonna take it in the front or take it in the back. As a big guy, when a little guy hits you, you gotta touch him back. I have no problem with what the Joker did. I actually like it as a big guy. You have these guys fouling, he hit him intentionally, so what do you do as a big guy? You go hit him back. But when you hit me, don’t turn your head because it’s coming.”
Shaq: “When you hit me, don’t turn your head because it’s coming.”
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 10, 2021
One of the biggest grips with what Jokic did is that he shoved Morris when his back was turned. For many, that’s breaking a golden rule.
But Shaq delivers a good point in that Morris turned around after giving the Joker that elbow.
Whatever the case, the whole thing has turned into a family feud of sorts, with the Jokic brothers and Morris twins exchanging blows online.
Nobody is sure when it will all end, or what will happen next time these two teams meet, but it has certainly been a wild ride.
