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Shaquille O’Neal has never been particularly supportive of the generation of players who have followed him. Feuds with other great men like Dwight Howard, JaVale McGee and Rudy Gobert have become commonplace for the current TNT broadcaster and Hall of Fame center, but his criticism peaked in a recent interview with the Guard. of Utah Jazz Donovan Mitchell. Speaking to Mitchell on live television, O’Neal told him that “you don’t have what it takes to take it to the next level”, and justified the statement by suggesting that he wanted Mitchell to l hear as a form of motivation.
O’Neal came under heavy criticism for the interview, with modern fans and stars like Kevin Durant and LeBron James speaking out in Mitchell’s defense. But rather than apologize for his statement, O’Neal doubled down on his response. On Monday, O’Neal posted an Instagram slideshow featuring former teammates Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Steve Nash, Gary Payton, Penny Hardaway and LeBron James with a caption that read, “This is what greatness looks like at the guard post. I’ve played the best ever. You know I know what is best. #Donthavetohate. You all know I got a G14 rating to say what I’m saying. “
The message was strange on several levels. James criticized O’Neal for what he said to Mitchell, but he appears in the slideshow. While Mitchell isn’t quite as accomplished, he’s often compared to Wade, who also shows up. It’s also worth noting that Mitchell, 24, is only in his fourth NBA season and is currently leading a contender. He may not yet be the equal of the featured players, but to suggest he has no chance of getting there seems extremely premature.
But O’Neal is hardly known for his restraint. He frequently quarreled with opponents (and even teammates) as a player, and this has now spilled over into his career as a broadcaster. He’s apparently committed to his anti-Mitchell stance, but if the young jazz star continues to grow at the rate he’s got so far, Shaq may soon regret that stance.
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