LeBron James or Stephen Curry? Shaquille O’Neal names the most influential player in the NBA

When it comes to influence in the NBA over the past decade, there are two names that stand above the rest: LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Both have defined the modern era of basketball in their own ways—LeBron with his dominance and longevity, and Curry by revolutionizing how the game is played. But according to Shaquille O’Neal, one stands out just a bit more.

LeBron, the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, continues to defy expectations in his 22nd season. Meanwhile, Curry—already the league’s all-time three-point leader—has completely transformed the way basketball is played with his long-range shooting. Both own four NBA titles, but their influence reaches far beyond the trophy case.

On a recent episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq, the Lakers icon admitted both stars have changed the game, but ultimately gave the edge to Curry for the ripple effect he’s had on the entire league’s style of play.

“I think it’s part of the same,” O’Neal said. “LeBron was always there, but when Kobe was fading out, that’s when LeBron [took off]. And then you got Steph Curry [taking off]. Actually, I’mma go with Steph Curry is more influential because if you look at all f— basketball, it’s being played like Golden State Warriors now“.

O’Neal argued that virtually every team in the league now centers its offense around the three-point shot—something that began with Curry’s early rise in Golden State. That impact became undeniable earlier this season when, on February 12, the NBA set a new record for three-point attempts in a single day: 1,119 across 15 games, per OptaStats.

Shaq once called out Curry for changing the game

This isn’t the first time Shaq has addressed Curry’s impact on the NBA. Back in a November 2024 episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq, he went as far as to blame the Warriors star and his team for what he called the “boring” sameness of today’s NBA style.

“Everybody is running the same plays… Steph Curry and those guys messed it up,” O’Neal said. “I don’t mind Golden State back in the day shooting threes, but every team isn’t a 3-point shooter. So why does everybody have the same strategy? I think it makes the game boring”.