Shaquille O’Neal, a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee, shared a rather harsh criticism of players who were considered to be future Hall of Famers. With specific reference to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, O’Neal had this to say on “The Big Podcast”.
“You ever see that movie Ocean’s Thirteen? I’m going to just break in and take all my s**t out. M**********r’s just throwing anybody in there now.”
O’Neal continued by referencing NBA legend Isiah Thomas, who had split the Hall of Fame by classifying it into two distinct sections, “There’s a bad m**********r Hall of Fame,” said the big man. “And there’s the basketball Hall of Fame.”
At this point, O’Neal questioned the legitimacy of Tatum’s position as a future Hall of Famer. Although he boasts the necessary credentials, with multiple All-Star selections, All-NBA Team selections, as well as an NBA title, the former NBA player wasn’t in agreement with this.
In response to this, O’Neal was asked to curate his own Hall of Fame based on the current batch of players, excluding LeBron James. To this, he responded, “I would have to Curry… Got how many rings? 3? 4 rings?”
He continued by naming Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic. However, when asked whether Chris Paul deserved a place in his list, O’Neal responded by saying, “I’m not a guard. I’m going to let you answer that.”
“You motherf*ckers just throwing people [Jayson Tatum] in there now… I would have to go [Steph] Curry… Giannis [Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic]."
Shaq on the current players making the Hall of Fame other than LeBron James 👀
(via @bigpodwithshaq)pic.twitter.com/r7L4erih3p
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 5, 2025
Apart from James, who is a shoo-in as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, O’Neal named Warriors star Stephen Curry along with Antetokounmpo and Jokic. Each of the players named has a legitimate case for being inducted, with Curry and Antetokounmpo even being named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
However, apart from these players, O’Neal very evidently snubbed a couple of greats in the current era – Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard in particular.
While credentials can be ignored to some extent when defining the parameters of O’Neal’s list, Durant and Leonard have presented a very strong case for being considered as Hall of Fame candidates.
Durant has solidified his position as one of the greatest offensive players the game has ever seen. With four scoring titles and 15 All-Star appearances to go with his two NBA titles, the forward redefined offense by capturing the title of being unguardable.
Meanwhile, Leonard has been one of the most lethal two-way players in recent history. His versatility on both ends of the floor, from scoring in clutch situations to defending out of position, makes him an incredibly rare breed of superstar.
Although his injury-prone nature could see him snubbed to some extent, what he is capable of doing when he is on the floor is undeniable. And with two NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, and seven All-Defensive Team selections, he is a certified first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Apart from these two superstars, O’Neal also missed several other players who would undoubtedly find their place in the Hall of Fame as first-ballot inductees.
Chris Paul is certainly a name that has to be considered. Paul has been one of the premier point guards in the NBA for a large part of his career. His sheer longevity, paired with his productivity and success as a floor general, guarantees him a spot among the greats.
Other noteworthy players include the likes of Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis. Westbrook was a force of nature during his time with the Thunder. Having averaged a triple-double for three consecutive seasons, Westbrook etched his name in the history books as one of the best to ever do it.
Although Davis has been on the receiving end of much criticism in recent years, it is hard to overlook how dominant he was during his title charge with the Lakers. Looking like one of the best big men in the league coming out of college, Davis has been a truly special player.
Jayson Tatum’s accomplishments don’t necessarily pale in comparison. But at only 27 years old, they set a solid foundation for making a case in the future.
In the process of recovering from his ACL injury, Tatum will have a long road to recovery. Whether this will see the Celtics star return to All-Star form will be a point of concern. However, should he manage to return to form, there is no room for doubting what he could be capable of accomplishing.
