After four years of duking it out with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in June, LeBron James decided that he'll just have to face the Warriors earlier — in the Western Conference finals — as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. His move was expected by many, but one person who was taken by surprise is Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal.

A Laker great himself, O'Neal spoke with Brody Miller of NOLA.com and discussed his initial expectation out of James in free agency.

Article Continues Below
More Los Angeles Lakers News
NBA player Deandre Ayton in a LA Lakers jersey with the LA Lakers arena in the background, Deandre Ayton free agency contract buyout
Why Lakers must pursue Deandre Ayton in free agency after Blazers buyoutDavid Yapkowitz ·
Lakers' LeBron James shoots over Blazers' Deandre Ayton
Lakers fans already recruiting Deandre Ayton after buyoutJedd Pagaduan ·
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) signals to teammates during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center.
Bobby Marks details why Lakers’ LeBron James trade to Cavs won’t be easyRichard Pereira ·
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
NBA rumors: Kevin O’Connor suggests Cavs try LeBron James trade with LakersJaren Kawada ·
Los Angeles Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith (17) celebrates after scoring a three pointer agains the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter during game four of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center.
Lakers rumors: Contenders lurking after Dorian Finney-Smith declines $15.4 million optionTroy Finnegan ·
LeBron James with the logos of every NBA team in the background.
Ranking 5 best LeBron James trade destinations after Rich Paul’s bombshell Lakers quotesBailey Bassett ·

“I would have thought because — see, we all have egos. When I had my three rings, I wanted to get four before Kobe (Bryant) did. Now, we got four, then Kobe got five. I didn't want Tim Duncan to get five.”

“So, I thought LeBron's process was going to be, ‘I got three, Steph Curry's got three. I'm going to stay here, bring some people or go to a team I can get four before (Curry) got four.'”

With how the Lakers are constructed as of this writing, James' chances of upending the Warriors remains bleak. In fact, despite having a young and talented core, Los Angeles would still have to go through a Golden State team that would have a spry core of stars three years from now, granted that they remain intact.

As it stands, Curry is poised to add more hardware to his trophy case while James would have to content himself with pages off the NBA record books. For O'Neal, the four-time MVP's landscape-altering decision boiled down to one thing — family.