Lou Williams recently expressed his doubts about Shaquille O’Neal’s claim that he would average 40 points per game in today’s NBA. Williams, who played in the league long enough to witness its evolution, pointed out several reasons why he believes this would be a difficult feat for Shaq to achieve.
“I’m not buying that. Shaq played in today’s game. You know, granted it was at the end of his career, but he was a part of the game shifting to where it is today. Him averaging 40 points a game, I don’t know. I see him getting hacked way more than he did in his heyday.”
“I see him having to guard a Karl Anthony Towns at the three-point line. I see him having to deal with a Wemby… And nobody’s really throwing the ball in the paint anymore. They’re not throwing the ball on a block and just allowing Shaq to go to work.”
“Will Shaq be a dominant force in any era of basketball? Absolutely. But I think our OGs got to stop saying that they’ll just average 40 points a game off the whim because I’ve seen A.I. say something similar to that. I just think we got to stop saying it. Like these guys were superheroes, you know, in their playing days.” (34:43)
Firstly, Williams noted the significant changes in the NBA’s style of play. When Shaq was in his prime, the game was slower and more focused on post-play, which suited his physical, dominant style. In contrast, today’s NBA is faster-paced and more perimeter-oriented. Teams now rely heavily on three-point shooting and spacing, which means fewer opportunities for traditional post-up plays where Shaq thrived.
Additionally, Williams highlighted the defensive challenges Shaq would face. Modern big men like Karl-Anthony Towns and Victor Wembanyama often play on the perimeter, requiring centers to guard far from the basket.
This shift would force Shaq to defend players in areas where he might be less effective. Moreover, the defensive strategies in today’s game are more versatile, and Shaq would likely encounter frequent double-teams and intentional fouling, limiting his scoring opportunities.
Williams also emphasized that the current NBA does not revolve around feeding the ball to a dominant post player as much as it used to. This change in offensive philosophy means that even a player of Shaq’s caliber would not see the ball as consistently in scoring positions. Teams are more likely to spread the floor and use a variety of offensive sets that de-emphasize post-play.
Despite these points, Williams acknowledged Shaq’s potential to be a dominant force in any era. However, he urged caution against assuming that past players would easily adapt to and dominate the modern game. Williams mentioned that players like Allen Iverson have made similar claims, but the reality is that the game’s evolution presents unique challenges that even the greatest players might struggle to overcome.
Williams respects Shaq’s legacy but believes that the evolution of the NBA’s style of play and defensive strategies would make it difficult for him to average 40 points per game today. This perspective highlights the significant differences between eras and the complexities involved in adapting to the modern NBA.
How Can Shaquille O’Neal Average 40 Points In Today’s NBA?
Shaquille O’Neal, even at his peak, never averaged over 30 points per season, with his best being 29.7 points per game. He consistently averaged over 25 points per game for over ten seasons, establishing himself as one of the most dominant players of his era. While I personally don’t believe Shaq would average 40 points per game in today’s NBA, there are certain strategies and conditions that could potentially make it feasible.
The most critical factor for Shaq to average 40 points in today’s NBA would be surrounding him with four exceptional shooters. These shooters need to be so proficient that defenses cannot afford to leave them open under any circumstances. In this scenario, opponents would be unable to double-team Shaq without risking wide-open shots from beyond the arc.
This spacing would allow Shaq to operate one-on-one in the post, where his combination of size, strength, and skill would make him nearly unstoppable. With the floor spread out by lethal three-point shooters, Shaq would have ample space to dominate inside.
Shaq could exploit his physical advantages against single defenders, scoring with ease and consistency. The constant threat of outside shooting would prevent defenses from collapsing into the paint, giving Shaq more room to maneuver and increasing his scoring opportunities.
Another crucial factor would be Shaq’s free-throw shooting. Historically, Shaq struggled from the free-throw line, which led to the “Hack-a-Shaq” strategy, where teams intentionally fouled him to exploit his weakness. In today’s NBA, with advancements in training and sports science, it is plausible that Shaq could improve his free-throw percentage.
If he could consistently shoot over 70% from the line, it would significantly reduce the effectiveness of the “Hack-a-Shaq” tactic. Teams would be less likely to foul him intentionally, allowing him to score more freely and maintain a higher scoring average.
Additionally, today’s faster-paced game, with more possessions and increased scoring opportunities, could play to Shaq’s advantage. Despite the modern game’s emphasis on perimeter play, a dominant force like Shaq could still thrive by capitalizing on his unmatched physicality and efficient scoring in the paint.
While averaging 40 points per game is a tall order, surrounding Shaq with elite shooters to space the floor and improving his free-throw shooting could create an environment where such a feat is possible. With these conditions met Shaq’s dominant presence in the paint could translate into unprecedented scoring success in today’s NBA.
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