Shaquille O’Neal keeps attacking players whenever he has the chance and it seems like his favorite victim is Donovan Mitchell, whom he said was one of his favorite players in the NBA right now. Well, Shaq has a very curious way to show his admiration and respect for players and in recent hours, he talked about the Utah Jazz star, comparing him to Russell Westbrook and selecting the 2017 NBA MVP over the young guard.
During a recent edition of TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” O’Neal was once again talking about the Utah Jazz and Mitchell, who had scored 12 points in the first half of the game vs. the Boston Celtics. Naturally, Shaq was asked about the player’s performance and he claimed his comments about Mitchell’s level were part of a plan to get him where he is right now, playing great basketball and taking his team to the top of the West.
However, he then went to say that he’d pick Russell Westbrook, who has struggled with the Washington Wizards this season before Mitchell, the leader of the best team in the entire association. He engaged in a little discussion with Candace Parker, using a curious explanation to justify his election.
Via Basketball Network:
Shaq: I stand by what I said. I said he’s the fifth-best guard in the league!
Parker: But you also said Westbrook was better than Donovan, and that’s where I brought in career vs. this season.
Shaq: And I stand by that too. I’ll say it on national TV; I’ll tweet it, I’ll debate it. Yes, he is.
Parker: I’m not saying career; I’m saying this season.
Shaq: I don’t go by this season because this season ain’t over yet. … I like Donovan, but I don’t marvel over the 5th best player. I marvel over Steph Curry, Kyrie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBRTaodX3yY
Shaq has gone after the Jazz and his players for a couple of weeks now, first mocking Rudy Gobert’s contract extension before calling him out on Instagram, and then he told Mitchell he didn’t have what it takes to win in the league. It’s unclear why he’s making so harsh comments in recent days but O’Neal is looking bad, not the players he attacks. At least he admitted he likes Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving; that is something.
