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Shaquille O’Neal is no stranger to speaking his mind about what he thinks of current NBA players. Whether it’s James Harden’s departure from the Houston Rockets to Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, the Hall of Fame center and current “Inside the NBA” analyst regularly voices his opinion about today’s players.
His latest target was Mitchell, who he said “doesn’t have what it takes to get to the next level” as he interviewed him post-game after a Jazz win against the New Orleans Pelicans. But while the 24-year-old guard chose to take the high road against the four-time champion big man, a Utah state legislator made it clear on which side they were.
Rep. Kera Birkeland, who represents Utah House District 53, introduced Resolution 3, which is entitled “House Resolution Honoring Donovan Mitchell over Shaquille O’Neal,” passing in the Utah House of Representatives by a 67-5 vote, according to Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune. Aside from taking shots at the former Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, and Miami Heat big man, the state legislator also seeks to recognize Mitchell’s service to the Jazz while suggesting that “Spida” be considered as the state’s official arachnid.
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But aside from honoring the Jazz All-Star, the resolution also mentions as the Lakers and Heat being Kobe Bryant’s and Dwyane Wade’s teams, respectively, mentions O’Neal’s free throw percentage, Utah’s playoff wins over the Lakers in the 1990s, and even the Rotten Tomatoes rating of “Kazaam,” a 1996 film starring O'Neal.
Birkeland even wore a referee’s shirt as she spoke about the resolution, while House Speaker Brad Wilson wore a Jazz jersey. While O’Neal is usually the one dominating on the court, he may have found his match in the Utah legislators, who were more than willing to defend Mitchell while taking shots at him.
