Shaq thinks Wembanyama is ‘REDEFINING’ what a BIG MAN can do! | The Rich Eisen Show

Shaq thinks Wembanyama is ‘REDEFINING’ what a BIG MAN can do! | The Rich Eisen Show

This is what we call outstanding guest work. Good to see you, Shaq. How are you, sir? Good to see you. Uh, tell the young lady who did the promo that she didn’t uh announce me properly, and that is how should you be? Let me Should I get a pen to take this down? No, it’s only one word. Okay. Legend. Legend. Shil. Okay, let me let me make up for it again. Um, if you want if if you don’t mind, uh, Don Buy, take my single if you don’t mind. Uh, so I can do this. Uh, ladies and gentlemen, back on the Rich Eisen Show, legend Shaquille O’Neal. Oh, hey Rich. Hey, man. Good to see you. What’s going on? What’s up, brother? Good to see you. Oh, by the way, we’ve got we you see at the bottom of your screen right there, we’ve chironed you properly now. It just says legend underneath you right there. That’s all we got. You’re welcome. Hey, any any we take requests. It’s basically I know you do, brother. Good to see you. Hey, it’s really great to see you and and inside the NBA on ESPN. Obviously, we’re biased because we are two uh with Disney Plus and the ESPN app, but the it’s great just it’s the show. I’m seeing the show. I’m it it feels like it’s the same exact show that I’ve come to know and love and we all have. How does it feel to you sitting on the set there? It feels the same same people in the building. Uh the camera people, the runners, production people, TK Fiorell, and it was nice that we can keep the guys together. You know, that was that was my whole thing. It would have been weird uh working away not not from Chuck and Kenny, but but from Ernie. You know, you and Ernie have a special place in my heart. You guys are always so professional, nice to everyone, and always fair. You know, that’s what I’ve always loved about you, sir. You You may have your opinions, but you you always fair. You’re never derogatory. You never show favorites. And that’s why I have a tremendous amount of respect for you. That’s why anytime you want me to be on your show, I will always be on your show. You know, I love you. You know, I love your wife. Mhm. Uh so, you know, I was I was more concerned about being separated from the great Ernie Johnson. Well, first of all, I’m honored that you would consider me in the same sentence as Ernie, uh who’s as outstanding as they come and one of the greatest human beings on planet Earth. But it just felt like again comfort food, you know, for me to sit down and watch inside the NBA, certainly when, you know, the show was in peril. You I just didn’t know what was going to happen. And it just it’s the same show. It’s the same the same thing and but as good as ever on top of it. You know what I mean? Well, thank you. I think the I think the ESPN executive did a great job when they came and met with us. They said, “We’re not going to bother you.” And I said, “What about when Chuck talks about San Antonio women?” He’s like, “Well, we’ll we’ll deal with that when it happens, but we’re not going to bother you. We’re not going to micromanage you guys.” And you know, it’s pretty pretty much going to be the same show. So, you know, shout out to Craig Barry and and all the guys at at TNT that fought for, you know, keeping it the same cuz I’m looking at all the other shows. They’re not even close. Well, I mean, uh, two things. Uh, they’re not even close. Okay. You can’t you can’t say it, but I can. Well, you have every reason to crow about it. I mean, the Emmys are are on the shelf, that’s for sure. Um, and and again, the only thing that was different is you seem to have a little bit more hitch and your giddy up. We saw a side of you in the the opening show uh as you were trying to get up to the board that uh we we just saw all of you, Shaq, as you couldn’t, you know. Are you feeling all right? Is your hip okay? Are we good? What do you got? I’m good. I’m good. You know, just getting older. I’m good, brother. Just want to make sure that’s all good there. Um, I am good. Okay, good. And plus, you know, in terms of Chuck talking about San Antonio, only thing you can talk about is them. They’re 5-0 for the first time. I couldn’t believe that stat when I heard that. I thought that they had to have been 5-0 under the Admiral or uh Duncan or any of the pop teams, but they’re 5-0 for the first time right now. Listen, they’re they’re playing great. Wimby is redefining what a big man can do. You know, Joker has already redefined what big man can do, but Wimy’s taking it to a different level. dribbling between his legs, stepping back, looking like Kevin Durant. He’s playing some excellent basketball right now, and I’m happy for him. I’m happy for the San Antonio organization. What would your counsel to him be about um a full 82 season and how what would you tell him about? I would tell I would tell him to pace himself. you know, Phil Jackson, and I don’t know how he did it, but the three years we won in a row, he would come in at times and be like, “Hey, sit these two games out. I need you to rest. No parties, no rap videos, no commercials, just rest. But when you come back, I need you to average 40.” So, you know, Phil did a great job of of you know, managing uh you know, my um um game time, my injury time, and he also did a great job of keeping us away from Utah. I don’t know how he did it. You know, you know, we always have problems with Utah earlier before he got there, but right not notice we never play like he rather play Sacramento and San Antonio. So he would come in that time and be like, “Hey, I need you to sit a week out or hey, I need you average 40 this week or don’t practice this week.” So, you know, he just has to, you know, like if he gets, you know, like a little freak injury and, you know, he needs to take a week or two off and they lose one or two games, that’s fine because if they can have some type of homec court advantage, that’s fine. Like, it’s no it’s no use in trying to go 72 and and and and nine and you know, you’re playing through knick-knack injuries because you want to be as fresh as possible going into the postseason. Now that said, uh, and again, we talked about, um, inside the NBA and its greatness. Um, there are other partners that cover the NBA, and in that regard, NBC has Michael, um, as part of their pregame. I don’t know if you heard what he had to say about load management when he was talking to Mike Trico earlier this week saying, “I didn’t need load management. I don’t want load management. I want to play every single game.” What’s your two cents on that subject matter, Shaquille? play. I mean, I wanted to play every single game also, but you know, a lot of times I had like knick-knack injuries and, you know, I was I was better served to the the organization playing at a super high level. And, you know, a lot of times when you get these knick-knack injuries, it just, you know, kind of like slow you down a little bit and and me being slowed down like like like me being a regular Shaq was not good for anybody. But listen, you can never dispute what the greatest player of all time says. you know, he wanted to play and, you know, he he uh he did play a lot of those games and, you know, his his formula worked for him. But when I can get like two games rest and, you know, take my uh anti-inflammatories and then come back, like every time I came back off of injury, I was super fresh. Okay. So, um before we get to also the matter at hand, you’re here as a a partnership with Lily and we’ll explain about what you’re doing with this um this health organization. Um, the best team in the NBA, do you think is who right now? And will they be the best team in the NBA at the end of the season? Shaquille O’Neal. Best best team in the NBA. I still got to go with uh OKC. You know, they’re they’re the champs and they’re going to continue to be the champs until somebody knocks them off. But Spurs are playing well, Denver’s playing well. You know, a lot of teams are playing Phil uh Philadelphia’s playing well. But, you know, we always, you know, you’ve been a fan for a long time. You always see these teams, they start off hot. You know, I I can make better I I can make a better judgment call towards uh the All-Star game. Okay. But in terms of um what do you think of Golden State? How they’re they’re put together this year. What do you think? I love how they’re playing. I trust that that five in the playoffs more than I trust any other five. Is that so? Yeah. Steph uh Jimmy Draymond uh old man Al Horford that experience that experience alone is is is will be very important and then you got a young guy like Kaminga who’s mixing it up very well. So you know when it comes to the uh postseason and you know having experience and you know slowing the game down and always making the right critical decision I like that lineup a lot. And which lineup would you say the same thing about in the East? Which one would you say there? Nobody yet. Nobody yet. I’m I’m I’m still I’m still like looking at the teams and, you know, studying the teams. I’m I don’t have I don’t have that much confidence in in a lot of the teams yet. What is your expectation level, Shaquille, of uh LeBron’s season? What are you expecting from here on out? But I mean, you know, he’s expecting a a Cinderella season and, you know, at least another trip to the finals. You know, they’re they’re uh a little bit discombobulated right now. Austin Reeves is playing out of his mind, but I know when he comes back, he goes right back to the regular Austin Reeves. So, we’ll see how that plays out. But, you know, hopefully he gets back. him. I I I I would love to see him and Luca 30, 40, 45 games in a row so we can really see what that looks like. Okay. And do you think that winds up championship quality or they’ll have to make a move at some point? Again, I know it’s early, but I’m getting you here first two weeks of the season. Um what do you think? I mean, it’ll definitely get them a one through eight position and then, you know, once you get in the playoffs, anything can happen. Okay. Uh let’s talk about what you’re doing with Lily Shaquille O’Neal. The uh campaign is called don’t sleep on is it OSA or OSA? And what are we going to hear? Uh uh OSA first I have to first I have to disclose that I am a Lily spokesperson. Okay. And uh OSA stands for obstructive sleep apnnea. You know there’s a lot of people in in in the world that are adults especially ones living with obesity uh that have OSA. So, you know, obstructive sleep apnnea, you know, you wake up in the middle of the night, you know, you’re gasping for air, you know, sometimes you’re you’re choking, you know, you’re tired during the day. I was I was uh diagnosed with moderate to severe OSA in 2011. And, you know, I was a guy that, well, I’m still a guy that says, you know, I’m I’m I’m super human. you know, kind of gave me a treatment plan and I didn’t follow it, but now I’m, you know, following up with my doctor. And, you know, I just want people to to go get checked out. You know, uh I’m I’m not a doctor, but, you know, if you’re having those certain symptoms at night, you just need to go talk to your doctor and, you know, uh come up with a plan that’s very, very comfortable for you. If I’m not mistaken, this is what took Reggie White from us way too soon. um that uh he had this and he’s no longer with us right now. And I I’ll be straight up with you too, Shaq. I I was diagnosed with it as well. I have a mouth guard. I use a mouth guard um to try and help me sleep at night. Uh also, I think Susie was going to kick me out of the house if I kept snoring like like I did, Shaq. You know, you’re right. I had to take measures, you know. Yeah. You know, again, I encourage people to consult with their doctors and address questions and determine the path, you know, that’s uh right for them. Okay. Uh Shaq, I’m going to hand things off to my Philadelphia 76er uh colleague over here. What What fan of a colleague? Who are you dressed as right now? Um Oh, right now. The diesel will know. This is Jackson Heights own Mr. Randy Watson in the house. Sh. Oh, hey. Hey, Mr. Randy Watson. Just let yourself sexual chocolate. Sexual. They play so fine. Shack. Don’t you agree? Uh, yeah. Yes, it is, brother. Yes, it is, brother. So, Diesel, I’d like to talk to you about, you know, you being the MD, the most dominant ever right now. I’m I’m a Sixer fan and we have Joel Embiid and he currently might be the most dominant big man, you know. Oh, stop it. Not you know, not K Wendy and the Joker. But my question being, Shaq, the Sixers 4 and0, they’re looking real good. It’s obvious that the leaders of the team are now the guards, you know, with Maxi, the young VJ Edgecom, even with Jared Mlan when he comes back from injury. So, is there any advice that you would give to Joel about like maybe taking a step back and letting the Young Bulls do their things and maybe when there’s a time for him to step up and kind of assert his dominance? I mean, that’s going to be the I mean, that’s the big question at hand when he comes back. Is he going to slow those guys down? You know, it is a way to do both. You know, I remember when Dominique Wilkins taught me seven points a quarter. So, you know, Joel will touch the ball and you know, he will had the ball in his hands, but you know, after you get your seven points, when you got young guys like that, let him go crazy. You know, he can get, you know, Joe can get a lot of easy baskets if he go to the posts, if he rim runs and, you know, just stands in the lane and, you know, forces the referees to to call three seconds. It is a way to do both, you know, but a lot of times he he holds the ball and pumps fake and he left and he right and he does all that. So, he’s going to have to make a decision. Do do I hold the young boys back or do I join in on the party? Seven points. Average seven points a quarter cuz uh I don’t know if you remember, Rich, when I first got to the Lakers, I was trying to score 50 a half. Uhhuh. And and I would actually, you know, kind of, you know, tire myself out sometimes. So, he said, “Brother, seven points a quarter.” uh seven times four is 28 and then and then you get like you know offensive rebounds, you get a lot of drop offs, you get lobs that’ll bring you to the 30 40 range rather than then just getting the ball every time and try to score score score cuz I know when I would do that I would uh you know big shot Bob and Rick Fox and you know guys like that would you know eventually be cold. So whenever the double came I just tried to you know keep my guys involved but I definitely had to get my seven points first. Did you pick his brain or did he just volunteer that information to you? That one? Uh, what was that? He volunteered. He volunteered. You know, Dominic was Dominique, Isaiah, guys like that were like, you know, mentors to me. And I remember Yeah. Go ahead, please. I remember when Isaiah put me this album. They said, “Hey, man. You know, you’re going to be the face of the league. You going to have to, you know, uh, straighten up.” And I was like, “Yes, sir.” Okay. Wow. Uh, and also, you’re a producer on the new Allen Iverson Doc, huh? I saw you in the credits there on Prime Video. I am, you know, I’ve I’ve I’ve gotten to know him very very well over the past couple years, especially since retirement. And, you know, we live in a world now where people can kind of dictate your story. And I just got kind of tired of all the narratives, all the negative narratives about them. So, pull him to the side one day, hey man, I would like to, you know, produce a documentary on you and, you know, tell your side of the story. cuz he’s he’s very very misunderstood, but he’s the nicest guy, most respectful guy, but he’s also a tough- minded guy. He’s going to do it his way and and I kind of, you know, feel his pain cuz I was going to do it my way also. And that’s on Prime Video right now. Are you sure you didn’t do that because you’re both Cowboys fans and you got to rally together right now, Shaquille? You sure about that? I’m I’m always be a fan of the Super Bowl champion Cowboys. Did you see that Cowboy Doc? That was amazing. That was great. I I did see that. Yeah, that was I did see that. And you see what I just did? I just checked the box because now now I can now I can get the paycheck from ESPN because we just talked Cowboys. You know what I mean? I just checked that box here, right? And how are they doing this year? [Music] Looking them in the standings. Offensively doing great, Diesel. 34 and one. They’re 34 and one. We’ll see what happens. Oh yeah. Oh, that’s excellent. 34 and one. Man, we are so good this year. 34 to1. Boy, if you just remove one dash, it’s amazing what it can do to a record. You know what I mean? It’s amazing what can be done. Uh Shackman, great to see you. Love you. Love having you on. Wait, wait, wait. Go ahead, Rich. I know you’re respectful, but go ahead and ask me. What? What am I asking you? What am I asking? What am I asking about the new About the devastating news the NBA that broke? Go ahead and ask me. You can What? What’s the devastating news about what what you know? Oh, no. It’s okay. No, go ahead. Go. I have something to say, officer. What? What? I give you the floor on you’re talking about the what came out with the gambling and all that sort of business or no? Yes. Okay. You can ask me. Okay. What do you want me to What? Go for it. I don’t know what to even ask you. Like, have you seen it? What do you What What’s your opinion on it? I I saw what you were talking about. I mean, my opinion is that, well, first let me go on record and say that the NBA does a great job of of trying to safeguard us from all these things. I know twice a year they come in and they cancel practice and, you know, they talk about drugs, they talk about gambling, they talk about family, and you know, they kind of give us the letter of the law, especially with gambling. They they tell us things like, “Hey man, don’t be telling your boys or your relatives, I’m not playing today, or don’t be giving your boys information about who’s doing what and who’s doing what.” So being being so being involved in something like that, I think it’s very embarrassing to the league. It’s very embarrassing to the person. It’s very embarrassing to the families. You know, why would you put your mother’s house at risk? you know, I don’t, you know, it doesn’t make sense mathematically. You’re making a lot of money a year. So, how much like and like I I don’t even understand the parlays and all that, but how much can you make in in a parlay? So, you know, the the fact that the these names are being being brought up, I just feel sorry for them and and their families and their children. Shaquille O’Neal, I appreciate the time. Uh, I think I’m going to see you in a couple weeks cuz you have committed to be Suz’s last guest at the uh the school the uh school the uh USC Annenburgg school and Marshall School uh class that she is teaching on branding and and sports business and um I will see you there. Professor O’Neal is in the house. Professor O’Neal [Music]

On The Rich Eisen Show, Shaquille O’Neal joins the program.
0:00 Shaq needs a new announcement
1:00 Inside the NBA on ESPN
4:00 Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are 5-0
6:00 Shaq wanted to play every game
8:00 Thoughts on the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers
12:30 Philadelphia 76ers’ hot start
13:30 Dominique Wilkins taught him WHAT?!
14:40 The new Allen Iverson documentary
16:00 Shaq wants to be asked about this…

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