It's been almost nine years since Shaquille O'Neal announced his retirement after 19 NBA seasons, yet The Big Aristotle is still chomping at the bit to take a crack at today's NBA. While the 47-year-old big man isn't planning a comeback, he claims he is playing in the NBA vicariously through Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“I would actually love to play in this NBA,” O'Neal told ESPN's Jackie MacMullan and Kirk Goldsberry. “I would bring a little bit more physicality. I would bring my length, I would bring my athletic-ness. So, before you say, ‘Shaq can't play in this era today,' I'm already playing.”
“My name is Giannis Antetokounmpo.”
Antetokounmpo is arguably the most dominant big man in the league. Despite playing more of a point-forward role, consistent with the era of position-less basketball, The Greek Freak lives and dines on the interior, punishing opponents with thunderous dunks and strong finishes close to the basket — much like O'Neal used to do for the better part of his near two decades in the league.
Antetokounmpo is a force of nature, long, rangy, and athletic — much like a young Shaq used to be when first breaking into the league. O'Neal would put the ball on the floor, take a few dribbles, and bang it over his opponents, eventually developing more finesse moves to become unstoppable.
Much in the same way, The Greek Freak has added a 3-point shot to keep his competition honest, but still knows where his bread is buttered, getting most of his buckets in the paint.
There might be a colossal difference between a 7-foot-1, 330-pound behemoth and a lanky 6-foot-11, 242-pound forward — but the two have been as dominant a force as the NBA has ever seen in its time, which is allowing Shaq to relive his glory days vicariously through the reigning MVP.
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