NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O'Neal says the small-ball era and big guys going to the 3-point line and shooting 3-pointers is âsoft.â
There really isn't a traditional dominant center in the NBA anymore. Most teams want their bigs shooting jumpers instead of clogging up the lane. It's something Shaq isn't a fan of at all.
âIt depends on what type of big man youâre talking about,â Shaquille O'Neal told Brandon âScoop Bâ Robinson of Heavy. âSee the title âbig manâ is anyone at the five position, right? So you know, I hear people say oh big guys can shoot. The game is evolvingâŠus older big guys donât look at it as evolving. We look at it as soft.
âBecause guys donât want to get down there and bang. Which is okay. You know, new era new generation, I canât tell them how to play, I canât tell them what to do. I can give them hints every now and then on how to make the game easier. Look, I was the first big guy to take it coast to coast and do all that, but the game was easier to take the high percentage shots. Imagine me trying to do that in the Finals. Bringing the ball up. We wouldnât win.
âSo you know, when youâre a big guy, you have to use your abilities to get highest percentage shot for you to win. The team that shoots the highest percentage from the free throw line, or field goal percentage from the 3, is that team that always wins. Analytics or not. Thatâs the facts.â
Shaq averaged 23.7 points and 10.9 rebounds during his Hall-of-Fame career. He is universally recognized as the most dominant player in NBA history.
If O'Neal was playing in today's NBA, he would feast like crazy in the post since there isn't anyone on an NBA roster who can slow down prime Shaq.
Analytics have really changed the game. The Houston Rockets don't even shoot mid-range jumpers anymore. In fact, Carmelo Anthony had to apologize to the Rockets staff during a preseason game last season for taking a long two.
The NBA will be suspended for a while because of the coronavirus. It's unknown when play will be resumed.
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