Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most physically intimidating players to ever set foot on a basketball court. He was a mammoth that just couldn’t be contained, had the footwork of a guard, and a sneaky high basketball IQ. A rare package. At the peak of his game, O’Neal was labeled the NBA’s most dominant player of all time. He backed that up each time he took the court. Shaq was an offensive juggernaut who caught bodies left and right in the offensive end. Defensively, he was a force to score against.
Shaquille O’Neal Says Today’s NBA is Littered With Cupcakes
O’Neal recently made headlines by saying he would average a wild 60 points per game in today’s league. He even added that he would earn a staggering $300 million annual salary, tax-free if he were playing in the current era.
“Oh, if I was playing, I’d average 60 in this league today. Easily. These little cupcakes. I’d average 60. Trust me. And they would have to pay me 300 million a year tax-free.”
O’Neal averaged 23.8 points per game, 15.8 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks over his first 10 NBA games. Additionally, he would run away with the Rookie of the Year award. O’Neal had one of the highest rookie P.E.Rs in NBA history. Ultimately, Shaq’s rookie season was only the start of an All-time great career. Which saw him win four NBA titles, three finals MVPs an MVP award, and 15 All-Star appearances.
Standing at a towering 7’1” and weighing over 300 pounds, it often took two people to stop him. O’Neal was the same force that gave premier defenders Tim Duncan and David Robinson trouble in tandem. His combination of power and finesse made him a nightmare matchup for defenders. Furthermore, he led his teams to four NBA championships while adding numerous accolades throughout his career
The Big Diesel Has a History of Making Similar Comments
Where the game has pivoted to being perimeter-oriented pace-and-space offenses, O’Neal’s caught some pushback from fans over his assertion that he’d average 60.
O’Neal also commented on the lack of dominant big men in the league today. With his size and skill set, he would undoubtedly wreak havoc in the paint against smaller, less physically imposing defenders.
Some say the ex-Laker legend’s game wouldn’t match the fast pace of modern basketball with his lack of a long-range shot. However, the Big Diesel doesn’t seem to agree with those kinds of statements.
“I wish I played in this era, I would average 60,” Shaq said once, and while 60 points may be a bit of a reach, there’s no reason to think he couldn’t score over 30 points a game in today’s game.
O’Neal’s mobility was breathtaking for his size and girth. He was faster than most centers and knew how to use his length to guard the perimeter. O’Neal’s impressive performance throughout the 1999–2000 season earned him the regular season MVP award. Notably, narrowly missed out on becoming the first unanimous MVP in NBA history While 60 points is an audacious claim, there’s no denying O’Neal would be dominant in any era.
