Shaquille O’Neal has been the target of criticism online after flaming current players like James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. O’Neal has been a long-time critic of the current style of basketball, and especially the way of the “modern big.”
But after one of his more recent exchanges, in which he told young Jazz star Donovan Mitchell he “doesn’t have what it takes to be a star,” the NBA community fired back, promoting the Lakers legend to respond on social media.
“This is what greatness at the guard position looks like,” he wrote alongside a series of photos that included him with former teammates like Penny Hardaway, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James among others. “I played with the best ever to do it. You know I know what best look like. #donthavetohate. Y’all kno I got G14 classification to say what I say.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKdNrEPFDfx
He didn’t stop there, though. In a response to the Instagram account “winshares,” he continued to defend his stance and call out those who have flamed him online.
“I’m to great to hate listen to what I say don’t be sensitive u betta google me,” he said. “I kno what greatness is. Ain’t nobody playing done what I’ve done besides LeBron and Steph Curry. I have G14 classification to say what I say. I played against and with the best ever. So shut your fave up WINSHARES. Me hate that’s funny. You betta google me.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKeoJPSFCkW
Obviously, Shaq has the experience to talk basketball. Besides being a 15x All-Star, 3x Finals MVP, and 4x NBA Champion, the Hall-of-Famer has played alongside some truly amazing players — including Penny Hardaway, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade.
Still, it gives a bad look for him to be so critical of the modern NBA and its current generation of players.
Regardless, it doesn’t seem like O’Neal has any plans to cool on his rather controversial takes.
