Shaquille O’Neal spoke to Jaylen Brown after the Celtics beat the Mavericks in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. O’Neal told Brown to not worry about who the ‘man’ on the team is and to focus on winning the championship. While Brown didn’t understand at first, Shaq explained it in simpler terms that he and Jayson Tatum should just focus on winning and not whose team this is if they want to win a championship.
Shaq: “Jaylen I don’t have a question, but I’d like to give you some G-14 classification information because this is going to be the last time you see me. Do not get fixated on useless titles. Do what you got to do. Doesn’t matter who is who, or they say who’s what, it ain’t time for all of that right now. Do what you got to do and get it done.”
Brown: “I understand.”
Winer: “That made sense to you?”
Brown: “No.”
Shaq: “Okay well let me break it down. They’re trying to separate you and your guy by saying who is better. I’m saying don’t worry about useless titles, who is the man, it don’t matter who the man is. Kobe is the man, Shaq is the man, it don’t matter. I’m getting my 40, Kobe getting his 39, and let’s go win these championships. That’s what that meant.”
Brown: “Yes sir. I agree with that.”
Shaq: "Do not get fixated on useless titles. Do what you gotta do."
Matt Winer: "That made sense to you?"
Jaylen Brown: "No." 😅
Shaq: "Okay well let me break it down… It don't matter who the man is!"
(via @NBATV)pic.twitter.com/CISgyV2aXr
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 10, 2024
O’Neal doesn’t want to see Brown and Tatum have a falling out over their place on the team as he and Kobe Bryant did in the Lakers. Shaq’s issues with Kobe led to him demanding a trade and joining the Heat in 2004, which broke up what many consider the greatest duo in NBA history.
Jaylen Brown And Jayson Tatum Continuously Pitted Against Each Other
Shaquille O’Neal’s conversation with Jaylen Brown was an extension of what he said before the game. Prior to Game 2, O’Neal warned Brown and Tatum not to worry about titles and positions, and just to focus on the game, while he implied that Kobe Bryant was a better player than him during their championship years.
“Yeah, I think if you’re worried about useless titles… When I was young I was worried about useless titles. But when I stopped worrying about useless titles, I started winning championships In my Laker runs, I was not the best player on the team. I knew that but I knew I was the most dominant.”
“So I knew my role, I knew what I had to do, I wasn’t worried about useless titles. So, if those two young gentlemen are worried about useless titles, who’s the best on the team, whose team it is, it will definitely affect them tonight. Jaylen has been playing well…”
“This is the third time I’ve actually seen these guys play up close. And Jaylen Brown had a fabulous game. Tatum does a great job of getting everybody else involved… At this point in my career, I’m going to get to get it, man, I’m letting the world know.”
“He came out, he used his aggression, he let everybody get the ball which gives this guy, Jaylen Brown, room to operate. If these two young men are worried about useless titles, whose team it is and whose the best player, not only will it affect his game but they will lose this series.”
Brown and Tatum are very regularly compared by media personnel, which has caused many Celtics fans to worry about their relationship. Recently, Joe Mazzulla dismissed any rumors of beef between the two stars, saying that they are two different stars but have a lot of love for each other.
The duo are currently two wins away from winning their first NBA championship together. And if they can keep things harmonious with each other, it bodes well for the Celtics and could bring many championships their way in the future.
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