{"id":95208,"date":"2024-09-11T15:19:48","date_gmt":"2024-09-11T19:19:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=95208"},"modified":"2024-09-11T15:19:48","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T19:19:48","slug":"shaquille-oneal-casts-doubt-on-victor-wembanyama-dominance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/11\/shaquille-oneal-casts-doubt-on-victor-wembanyama-dominance\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Legend Questions Victor Wembanyama\u2019s Dominance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shaquille O\u2019Neal<\/a> has recently questioned the NBA\u2019s Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama\u2019s<\/a> future dominance, despite a historic rookie campaign<\/a> for the San Antonio Spurs. Citing his heavy reliance on shooting jumpers, the Hall-of-Famer suggested that the Frenchman\u2019s playstyle does not invoke fear in the opposition compared to other greats in the game.<\/p>\n

Shaquille O’Neal Questions Victor Wembanyama\u2019s Dominance<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Speaking on the Pat McAfee show<\/a>, Shaq said:<\/p>\n

\u201cWemby is a great player. But I don’t really think you can be dominant when you shoot jumpers a lot. I think if he was an inside player at 7-foot-5, the answer would be yes. But when you shoot jumpers, you’re always going to go up and down.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Clarifying his ‘dominant’ definition, O\u2019Neal cast doubt on whether Wembanyama fits the criteria.<\/p>\n

“You have to tell me what your definition of dominant is.\u00a0 Mine was, ‘We\u2019re terrified of him. We have to change the rules for him. Nothing we can do can stop him. We\u2019re gonna bring extra players to stop him.’ And you have to be consistent with all those things for at least five, six, seven years.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

His comments may come as a surprise to many, given what the 20-year-old produced on a struggling Spurs side throughout last season.\u00a0In 71 games, Wembanyama averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.6 blocks per game.\u00a0 This earned him unanimous Rookie of the Year<\/a> honors ahead of Chet Holmgren<\/a> and Brandon Miller.<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Victor Wembanyama:<\/p>\n

\u2014 21\/11\/4b
\u2014 NBA blocks leader
\u2014 NBA stocks leader
\u2014 Most BLK by a rookie in 30+ seasons
\u2014 1st 20\/10 rookie season since Blake
\u2014 1st 20\/10\/3 season this century (all players)
\u2014 1st season with 250+ BLK and 100+ 3P<\/p>\n

Run away ROTY. pic.twitter.com\/pIhMAkNssc<\/a><\/p>\n

— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 6, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n