Shaquille O’Neal was perhaps one of the most dominant players the NBA has ever seen. The 7’1″ phenom was unlike any other player. While he was strong as a rock, he was surprisingly agile and was one of the best transition players in his prime. Running down the floor and scoring with the team, there was simply no answer to the wrecking train of O’Neal.
Playing for multiple teams in the NBA, Shaq unsurprisingly had a huge list of accolades to his name. From 4 championships to 3 Finals MVPs, the Diesel was a winner wherever he went. But perhaps the most important team in his career was the Los Angeles Lakers.
Shaquille O’Neal Claims He Would Have Been The Same Player Regardless of Him Putting In More Work
Ever since Shaq joined the team, the Lakers looked like a great team, but they needed some time before they made a splash in the playoffs. It finally happened when youngster Kobe Bryant emerged as the second superstar alongside O’Neal.
The duo of Kobe and Shaq was simply unstoppable. Outscoring teams at will and dominating defenses, the Lakers were incredible. While this team would go on to win a three-peat, the relations between Kobe and Shaq weren’t perfect. While Kobe being the perfectionist he was, would be in the gym for hours, his big man would not put in the same effort.
Although Kobe claimed that Shaq would have been the GOAT if he had a higher work ethic, O’Neal certainly doesn’t think so. In an interview, the 3-time Finals MVP claimed that he would have been the same player regardless of his work ethic.
“Mentally, I’m so strong, I don’t need to workout for these bums anyway.”
Despite fans and pundits questioning his work ethic, it is fair to say that ‘the Diesel’ had a legendary career, regardless. Playing 19 seasons in the league is no mean feat, and given the number of accolades he garnered despite having a presumably low work ethic, the center certainly left his mark on the game.
