Shaquille O’Neal Makes Strong Statement Amid Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The past couple of weeks have seen NBA trade rumors reach a fever pitch surrounding Milwaukee Bucks’ star Giannis Antetokounmpo, with teams such as the Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks listed among the contenders.
Advertisement
On Monday, as trade rumors continue to swirl, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal offered a contrarian view on an episode of “Good Word with Goodwill.”
When asked what advice he’d give a 30-year-old Antetokounmpo weighing a departure from Milwaukee, O’Neal emphasized that “social media is the market now,” downplaying traditional notions of “big markets.”
“Nobody cares what city you’re in anymore. This ain’t the 90s,” O’Neal said.
He argued further that Antetokounmpo has already cultivated a global brand as the “Greek Freak,” making any city capable of supporting his stardom, saying that he should instead, “Go upstairs and be like ‘I want to see all the free agents, I want all the phone numbers and I want to talk to them.’ He should bring people to help.”
Several current small-market stars reinforce O’Neal’s point.
Advertisement
Nikola Jokic, playing in Denver, has won multiple MVPs (2021, 2022, 2024) and an NBA championship (2023), despite Denver’s middle-market status.
Similarly, Luka Doncic thrived in Dallas, elevating the Mavericks to perennial contenders and even an NBA Finals appearance in 2024.
This year’s 2025 NBA Finals also features two small-market teams in the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Antetokounmpo himself has grown his off-court influence from Milwaukee, with endorsement deals and social media engagement rivaling some of the larger markets.
While Los Angeles still offers unique media exposure, O’Neal suggested that the increased tax burden and constant media circus could offset those advantages.
Advertisement
Related: Draymond Green Sends Strong Message After Big Steph Curry News
Related: Warriors Linked to Timberwolves Guard After Disappointing End to Season
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.