Shaquille O'Neal wouldn't change his game if he played in the NBA today
Shaquille O'Neal has no plans to change his game if he's playing in the NBA today. O'Neal was a dominant force in the paint and one of the most unstoppable players ever. However, the LA Lakers legend was never known for his shooting with just one made from beyond the arc in his career.
O'Neal was a recent guest on the "Pick n' Roll Show" on COSMOTE TV. He was asked by hosts Rigas Dardalis and Vassilis Skountis about playing in today's NBA. The four-time champ was honest that he would never take 3-point shots, but would dominate the paint and put defenders in foul trouble.
"I would never shoot a 3-pointer," O'Neal said. "All these tall shooters, they weren't even in the game because against me they would have two fouls in the good night and they wouldn't shoot. I would take the ball and make easy baskets."
Shaquille O'Neal has only one 3-point basket in his career. It happened on Feb. 16, 1996 as a member of the Orlando Magic. O'Neal picked up a loose ball against the Milwaukee Bucks and threw it to the rim to beat the buzzer. He's 1-for-22 from beyond the arc in his 19-year career.
O'Neal was never known for his shooting. He has a career free throw percentage of 52.7%. He played in an era where 3-point shots were not a priority. Nevertheless, he dominated his opponents en route to one MVP, three Finals MVPs and four rings.
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Shaquille O'Neal would love to play in the NBA today
Shaquille O'Neal was a behemoth, standing at 7-foot-1-inch tall and weighs around 325 pounds during his prime. O'Neal averaged 26.3 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.5 blocks per game during the first 14 seasons of his career.
But will Shaq be successful in today's NBA? The LA Lakers legend believes he'll dominate even more because the league is soft. He told Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report in a 2020 interview that he would be hard to stop and make things tough defensively.
"I would actually love to play in today's NBA because I hate to say it, and I'm not talking about the players, but the game is soft," O'Neal said. "Make sure you put it like that. The players are not soft, but the game is soft. ... I would average more because you can't foul as hard."
There are no more dominant big men in the NBA built like Shaquille O'Neal. Giannis Antetokounmpo could be the closest comparison to a prime Shaq. Even O'Neal admitted that watching "The Greek Freak" dominate the paint reminds him of himself.
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