When you are no longer in the court, you get to see the game through a lot many lenses that players usually don’t. Yes, and the older generation of NBA greats has never shied away from voicing their discontent with today’s game. But lately, Shaquille O’Neal has taken that criticism to another level. No one is safe from his wrath and he is letting everyone know how he feels about them. And he is not impressed with what he is seeing in the younger generation of basketball superstars. This mindset likely stems from the era he played in. From the ’90s into the early 2000s, Shaq faced off against legends Kobe, Duncan, and Garnett. He also played alongside stars who fought through pain and pressure.
So, it makes sense why he’s frustrated when today’s stars play with caution or rely heavily on the three-ball. Moreover, he recently even let his thoughts fly on The Big Podcast, slamming the league’s direction and questioning its intensity. Even Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren didn’t escape his fire. Shaq boldly claimed, “I will make both of them f****** quit.” He argued that in his day, their lighter builds wouldn’t stand a chance. He imagined himself backing them down, elbows flying, overpowering them until they gave up. That may sound like a stretch, but it’s clear he’s holding onto an image of dominance that today’s style doesn’t match.
But if you think his rant over the modern NBA was going to be over just like that, you couldn’t be more wrong. He is back, and this time, he is attacking where it hurts. A recent video shared by USA TODAY Sports captured Shaq mid-rant. In it, Shaq’s frustration with the modern game boiled over. “I love the game, but I don’t think the current players love the game… they love what they can get out of the game,” he said. He compared today’s players’ hunger for money to his own hunger for legacy.
And that’s where things hit close to home. When he left Orlando for the Lakers in 1996, people said he did it for the money. He signed a $121 million deal, and many called him greedy. Yet Shaq fired back: “I’m tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok.” With that in mind, it seems almost ironic that he is now targeting the younger generation of players for something similar. Well, if anything, he should know exactly how painful those labels can be.
Shaquille O’Neal goes unfiltered as he fires shots at Ben Simmons
Shaquille O’Neal has always been loud, unfiltered, and brutally honest, but it seems he might have gone a step further in his boldness this time. His recent rant on The Big Podcast didn’t just stir the pot, it flipped it over. Shaq went off on Today’s NBA and didn’t hesitate to name names. One of his boldest claims? That Ben Simmons should be “f–king arrested” for cashing big checks without delivering on the court. Was this criticism from the NBA legend too harsh? Or just a legend fed up with what the game’s turned into?
“I’ve seen what greatness is, been there, played with ’em,” he said. “So, you want me to give these motherf–kers the same props you giving them? That s–t will never happen.” He wasn’t just talking in general, either; he had receipts and names!
Feb 29, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (not in uniform) sits on the bench in the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
And the target of his unrelenting rage this time became Ben Simmons. He stated, “$250 [million] for that bulls–t? Get the f–k out of my face,” Shaq said. “Robbing people, man. You can’t do that.” Simmons, who once looked like the league’s future, hasn’t quite lived up to the hype. Injuries, inconsistency, and underwhelming performances have left fans frustrated and apparently Shaq even more so.
He’s now with the Clippers but playing limited minutes, leaving many to wonder if the star we once saw in Philly is ever coming back. In 2019, he and Philly agreed to a $170 million extension. But since then? He missed all of 2021–22 and struggled to stay healthy or effective after being traded to Brooklyn.
Well, if anything, Shaq is done with the situation and has started to call out names. He wants the league to get back to its former glory, with the same competitive spirit and skills! Can these young guns really hang in a league that once belonged to giants like Shaq? Is Shaq just being bitter here? Or does he have a point about the new version of the league?
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