Shaquille O'Neal shares LA Lakers legends tier list, divides fans immediately: "LeBron and Davis shouldn't be on the list", "Karim needs to be tier 1"
Shaquille O'Neal's influence has divided fans on sensitive matters regarding the NBA and its legendary players. This time, he did it again by posting an LA Lakers legends tier list that had fans divided as to where players should be placed.
O'Neal had fans split as he posted a photo of the legendary Lakers players on the tier list. Shaq even played it safe by saying that he didn't make the list himself and asked fans about their thoughts on the list. The list features some of the most recognizable players like Magic Johnson to players who didn't have star status, but had a significant impact. An example being Derek Fisher.
Thoughts on this list? Also I didn’t make this https://t.co/aFHlmRGlgS
Interestingly, the list had O'Neal at tier two, together with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jerry West. It also included the most recent stars in Los Angeles, LeBron James at tier three, alongside Wilt Chamberlain. Anthony Davis also made the list at tier four with the Spanish big man, Pau Gasol.
Fans quickly shared their thoughts on the list that Shaq shared. Fans agreed with where many of the players were placed. But there were also fans who had other thoughts on the list. Here are some of the best reactions from fans on Twitter:
@SHAQ LeBron and Davis shouldn't even be on the list.
@SHAQ Karim needs to be tier 1
@SHAQ I know there is only room for two at tier 1, but Shaq and Kareem belong in it along side Magic and Kobe.
All 4 equally unstoppable.
@SHAQ In terms of Laker accomplishments, there's no way LBJ and AD shouldn't be in the same tier. It doesn't make sense.
@SHAQ Kareem is better than Magic and Kobe so how he’s not considered tier 1 I’ll never know.
@SHAQ Pau, D Fish, Big Shot Bob up 1 tier each. Lebron down 1 tier.
@SHAQ I’d probably move LeBron up a tier he’s done a lot for the Lakers and I think he deserves credit where credits due
Even if he’s a pretty odd person outside of the nba
@SHAQ Having Bron above Pau (back2back Laker champ) or Michael Cooper (5x Showtime era champ) on any all time Lakers list is insane.
(((Before the NEW Lakers’Bron’ fans gather their panties Remember this is a lakers list not a top 100 NBA all time list)))
@SHAQ No Van Exel and Eddie Jones. Irrelevant
@SHAQ Dereck Fisher has 5 chips, so please, at least tier 4. And Pau should be ahead of LeBron.
With a gun on my head, I would say Kobe, but Magic-Ko-Kareem... to me are pretty equal, they'd be tied, but Mount Rushmore with Shaq for sure.
@SHAQ Honestly im puttin derek fisher above both BRON AND AD ‼️
@SHAQ If it's Laker accomplishments, Lebron down a tier. If it's career accomplishments, Lebron up, Horry up. Probably more, but I think this is Lakers accomplishments.
The year after the bubble, where the Lakers were unstoppable 3/4 of season, then LBJ AD both got hurt, would change
@SHAQ Switch Pau and Lebron. For sure. Pau accomplished much more as a Laker than Lebron has thus far. And Worthy should really be Tier 2. Or Tier 2.5.
@SHAQ Get Anthony Davis off the edge before he fall and get hurt 💀
@SHAQ @SHAQ you & @KingJames should be in the Tier 1 list. There’s no way why you two shouldn’t be on it.
@SHAQ You, Kareem, Bron should be tier 1. Kareem skyhook, you unstoppable in the post, Bron is well Bron.
@SHAQ in terms of accomplishment as a laker, heck kurt rambis should be higher than AD and LBJ. what have they won? bubble ring. dont disrepect the legendary lakers.
Also read: “Dennis Scott made me. I was a 19-year-old kid who didn't know nothing” – Shaquille O'Neal on Dennis Scott's induction to Orlando Magic Hall of Fame'
Shaquille O'Neal's attacks on Dwight Howard do not make sense
As a former star big man in the NBA, Shaquille O'Neal tends to criticize the big men of today. Centers like Rudy Gobert and JaVale McGee are no exception. If O'Neal finds it amusing to poke fun at the big, he won't hold back. This became the reason for his beef against McGee, who was always in the crosshairs of the LA Lakers legend.
Just a few weeks ago, former Orlando Magic superstar Dwight Howard debuted in Taiwan. He displayed Chamberlain-like numbers due to the competition in his new league. O'Neal, however, still targeted the veteran center and compared his performance to his session in the Lifetime Fitness league.
Afterward, Howard responded via his Instagram account by calling out the four-time champion:
"This message is for Shaquille O'Neal... First thing I want to say is, you gotta stop hating brother. You gotta stop hating! I have never in my life came at you about your basketball career, your family, your kids, anything of the sort."
"Because there is no need to. The world is too big to hate on another man. … Have I joked about, I've mimicked your voice, have I mimicked what I see on TV? Everybody do that. Comedians do that. People do that all the time. And I do it all the time, I do that to everybody. But I do not hate on people."
O'Neal responded by apologizing to Howard after his own mother scolded him. Shaquille O'Neal expressed his apology on NBA on TNT:
"Mr. Dwight Howard, I owe you apology and I will never hurt your feelings again."
As to whether this will stop him from poking at Howard in the future will be revealed in time.
Also read: Shaquille O’Neal slams Rudy Gobert for venting on social media about his criticism – “Stop letting people dunk on you, put somebody on your a**”