During his illustrious career, he achieved numerous incredible feats, including four titles, three Finals MVP awards, one league MVP award, and more. That being said, O'Neal recorded his best run with the Los Angeles Lakers, forming one of the greatest tandems in NBA history with Kobe Bryant.

Still, O'Neal never felt he rightfully belonged to the GOAT conversation, something many find a little hard to believe. Touching down on the subject in the latest episode of the "Big Podcast with Shaq", the Diesel had one of the greatest NBA scorers, Carmelo Anthony, as his guest.

"I'm not in the GOAT conversation. Listen, it's only three people in the greatest of all time conversation. Listen, I'm arrogant, but I'm not dumb. It's Kobe, Bron, and Mike, okay, that's it. We all have our subcategories… Like, I always wanted to be Lion King. But to me, like I had to modify what I was saying," stated Shaq, who never understood why Kobe wasn't in the mix.

"But my thing is, if you're going to have the conversation, have the correct conversation. For so long, it was just Mike and Bron.And now I'm like,'Oh, I understand the great picks. What about the Kobster?'" added the seven-footer, making a case for his former Lakers teammate.

Although Shaq has on multiple occasions in the past crowned Michael Jordan as the ultimate GOAT, he did propose a new framework for the debate.

Shaq's only prerequisite

Unlike many other NBA veterans, O'Neal did not mind revisiting the greatest of all time conversation now and then, but had only one simple rule.

"I think they should always keep it categorical… the best center, the best forward, the best guard, the best shooting guard.. Can't compare a big man to a guard. Can't do it," said Shaq.

Interestingly, O'Neal felt the big guys, who formed a small fraction, were always at a disadvantage. His reasoning behind it was that fans always liked the guards and the little guy more, as it was comparatively easier to relate to them.

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/im-arrogant-im-not-dumb-171600571.html

32 comments

  2. Imagine going into this industry and your job is just asking players the exact same questions after every game / every year.

  3. >Listen, I’m arrogant, but I’m not dumb.

    Doesn’t include Kareem in the GOAT conversation.

  4. If were talking individual players.

    It is Wilt, Kareem, Michael, and LeBron.

    Wilt is the personification of legendary player.

    Kareem has probably the moat decorated career and is the owner of the most unguardable shot in NBA history.

    Michael is probably the greatest player.

    Lebron is probably the best player.

  6. I don’t believe Kobe belongs anywhere close to the GOAT conversation, I have him around 10th but the fact that many NBA players feels like he’s on the level with MJ and Bron means there is more than just stats.

  7. It’s realistically just between MJ and Bron.

    Kareem is a very distant third to the point that he doesn’t belong in the conversation.

  11. The goat debate is Bron and Mike but Shaq got obvious personal reasons for Kobe which is fine, every player has their personal favorite who they overrate and it’s usually a guy from their era, a teammate or someone playing their position.

    Bron and Mike are in everyone’s top 3….given that you are not an idiot. The rest is filled with Kareem, Magic, Bird, Kobe and in a few years Curry might even sneak in and in 10 years we might start seeing Jokic depending on how his next couple years go.

  12. No way people in the comments are seriously upset that shaq is praising his deceased teammate of eight years who he won multiple rings with

  14. Hmm let’s revisit the GOAT conversation for the millionth time. Oh no one’s opinion has changed? How interesting! Let’s talk about it again next week for an update.

  21. Not having Kareem in your top 3 is criminal….he’s a 6 time champion (was the guy or 2nd guy on all those teams), has 6 MVPs (most all time), second in scoring (had the record for like 38 years), in his first 8 years he had 5 MVPs 😭, his first ten years included 9 years of All-NBA 1st or 2nd team, All-Defense 8 of those years. He has Lebron’s longevity with the accolades of and team success of Jordan. And I’m a LeBron fan btw but holy shit

  22. I wasn’t old enough to watch the likes of Kareem, Magic and Bird.

    From the players I got to watch; Jordan, LeBron, Kobe and Shaq definitely were on a tier of their own.

  23. Probably the best line I’ve ever read from a former athlete: “I’m arrogant but I’m not dumb”. Brilliant!

  24. Shaq having a 180 on Kobe after his dead is both insane and touching. He never ever fought or pushed for Kobe’s legacy before 2020

  25. I legitimately do not understand how someone could think Kobe is a contender for the greatest of all time. I’m not even hating because I grudgingly feel like he’s become underrated on Reddit. But, like, how?

  28. The thing about Kobe is that he’s a slightly worse Jordan. Slightly worse Jordan is still better than 99.99% of other NBA players but the guy he emulated was better in most facets of the game.

  29. If shaq was even 70% from the line- he is in GOAT conversation.

    IMO he is 90% right. Mike and Bron are the real conversation. I am not sure which one, but it is a real debate. Past those 2 there are the greatest of their era types- Kobe is that guy between Jordon and Bron- Wilt and Kareem both also fill that area. Then there are the “GOAT but for 1 issue” where we find guys like Shaq.

    So i think there is a great case for 2 guys as being the goat, but another 5-10 guys i would not laugh at you for bringing up (shaq, Wilt, Russell, Kareem, Kobe…. Magic, Bird, Duncan, Robertson and i think i start to really question you at Hakeem, west, ect.) I think it is more like a top 2, then a group 5, then another group of 4 or 5 (your opinion on if Hakeem was top 10 all time just buried by MJ or not) If you came in arguing any of the top 10 as the goat, i will just think you are trying to start something by making a case for a Tim Duncan- but i get it.

  31. The GOAT conversation in basketball is such a tired, fruitless, uninteresting conversation. Bron and MJ, whatever you prefer, are ahead (by a significant margin) of next several guys.

    Let’s celebrate past historic players for their careers, but can we talk about it in literally any other way? I’ll even accept superlatives like best passer, best fade, best signature move etc

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