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Home > NBA News & Analysis > Shaquille O’Neal Says The Utah Jazz Will Be The Lakers’ Biggest Threat

Shaquille O’Neal Says The Utah Jazz Will Be The Lakers’ Biggest Threat

Nico Martinez
Sep 18, 2021
3 Min Read
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The Salt Lake Tribune

The Los Angeles Lakers have more than enough talent to win the West this season. With LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, and a deep lineup of talented role-players, it’s no wonder why they’re favored to win the West.

Still, they will have some tough opponents to beat along the way — including the Utah Jazz, who will be looking for revenge following last season’s Western Conference Semi-Finals loss.

According to basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, the Jazz are L.A.’s biggest threat to the Lakers.

“Utah,” O’Neal responded when asked who he believes the biggest threat to the Los Angeles Lakers will be in the Western Conference. “I won’t be so hard on Rudy this year. Rudy [is] coming with a vengeance,” Shaq said. “Rudy is coming this year.”

It’s obviously a controversial take by Shaq, but he’s not the only one to see Utah as a major threat this upcoming season.

“I love Donovan Mitchell‘s progression as a star player in the league,” leaugue analyst Amin Elhassen said on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “I look at Utah as a team that looks towards the mirror like, ‘To hell with that. We was the best team last year, and we didn’t get it done’. And now they’re going to come back with a vengeance to show everybody this wasn’t a fluke.”

As a team, Utah prides themselves on their tough and superior defense, which has helped earn their big man, Rudy Gobert, major recognition over the years.

Really, it’s Donovan Mitchell who is the key to their success. Is he ready to take the next step as a true superstar in this league?

Last season was his best as a pro with averages of 26.4 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game on 43% shooting. If he can continue to improve and enhance his game, it could be all that Utah needs to take a leg up in the West and finally accomplish their goal.

Beating the Lakers, however, will prove challenging.

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TAGGED:Shaquille O'NealUtah Jazz Archive
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ByNico Martinez
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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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