Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal recently unleashed a scathing critique of the NBA’s current state on his podcast. The Diesel argues that the league’s product lacks the greatness he witnessed during his playing days.
It’s another chapter in the ongoing battle between generations.
“People get mad. It’s just a product of what I’ve seen,” the four-time NBA champion said. “I’ve seen what greatness is, been there, played with them. I don’t see that all the time over there.”
He then indicated he could not and would not give today’s players the props they think they deserve.
“That s— will never happen. You can call it hate if you want.”
O’Neal took particular aim at Los Angeles Clippers guard Ben Simmons, who hasn’t played more than 42 games in a season since the 2020-21 campaign.
Shaq said Simmons “needs to be arrested” since his exorbitant paycheck while not playing was “robbing people.”
“You can’t do that.”
“A lot of motherf***ers can’t play and they know it… Ben Simmons needs to be f***ing arrested.” 😳
— The Big Podcast (@bigpodwithshaq) April 4, 2025
Shaq on the physicality of today’s NBA pic.twitter.com/7JoKm1rImb
Not The First Time Shaq Has Nuked Today’s NBA Game
This isn’t the first time Shaq has heavily criticized the NBA product, and Simmons for that matter. Simmons is blessed with talent. Of that, there is no doubt. NBA Rookie of the Year. Three-time All-Star.
But the man is never on the court. Now, he’s averaging 5.3 points per game for the Clippers this year. He’s played in 15 matchups and started zero, averaging just over 17 minutes per game.
The last time he averaged double digits was in 2020 with the Philadelphia 76ers, when he played in 58 games. His average salary has been north of $35 million per season in every season since.
When Shaq was asked which NBA player he’d pay money to see on the court, he sarcastically replied, “Ben Simmons.”
“I would want to learn how you can make $80 million and play 55 games,” O’Neal wondered. “Teach me. Teach me how you could play 55 games in three seasons and get $30 million, $40 million and get another $40 million just by saying your back hurt.”
Shaq is inspired by Ben Simmons
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 28, 2024
“I'd wanna learn how you can make $80 million and play 55 games. Teach me.”
(🎥 @bigpodwithshaq / https://t.co/5clxBNeewE) pic.twitter.com/djTeHnkzU3
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Blames The Warriors For Ruining The Game
When he’s not bashing Simmons for collecting an undeserved fat paycheck, Shaq is also dinging the Golden State Warriors for turning the game into a three-point shooting contest.
“We’re looking at the same thing,” O’Neal said of the league’s sagging ratings. “Everybody is running the same plays. And [the Warriors] messed it up. I don’t mind Golden State back in the day shooting threes, but every team isn’t a 3-point shooter.”
“So why [does] everybody have the same strategy? I think it makes the game boring.”
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this theory. Legendary former Boston Globe sports columnist Bob Ryan thinks implementing the three-point shot in the NBA is the worst thing. Ever.
“For me, the three-point shot is the single worst thing to happen to basketball in my lifetime,” Ryan said during an appearance on The Ricky Cobb Show earlier this month.
Ryan called it a “gimmick” that has gone too far, and wouldn’t you know it, he also blamed the Warriors, particularly Steph Curry.
“All over America, 8-year-olds are cranking up threes. Steph Curry is the single most influential player of the 21st century…,” he said. “Every little kid wants to be Steph Curry, and it’s the game, the three-point shot.”
He’s right. Shaq’s right. 95% of the league is now three-point specialists somehow, even if they can’t hit the ocean, and only 5% knows how to play defense.
Oh, and their biggest star is a serial flopper. I’m not naming names here, but that star’s name rhymes with DeBron Flames. That’s what NBA players think is great these days.
As Shaq said, we’ve all seen greatness before us – O’Neal, Magic, Larry, Michael, Kobe, Wilt – what we’re watching today, ain’t it.
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