Shaquille O’Neal is without a doubt one of the most dominant legends in NBA history, remembered for his unstoppable impact across several franchises but especially with the Los Angeles Lakers. These days, he has transitioned into the media, where he covers the league with the same confidence that defined his playing career, never hesitating to share his opinions.
Shaquille O’Neal was among the big names in attendance at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday for the BIG3 playoffs. While there, Courtside Buzz asked O’Neal to name his all-time BIG3 team, and he wasted no time giving his answer. He went with himself and two of his former teammates.
“Me, Kobe [Bryant], and Penny [Hardaway],” O’Neal said. “Undefeated. Never gonna lose a game.” A trio featuring O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Penny Hardaway would be nearly impossible to stop. NBA teams that had even two of those three already gave opponents nightmares, making this lineup a fantasy of dominance.
The combination would be lethal. Bryant’s relentless intensity and ability to take over games, Hardaway’s versatility and playmaking, and O’Neal’s total dominance in the paint would form a three-man unit that could overwhelm anyone. Few teams in any era would be able to match up.
O’Neal and Hardaway were teammates with the Orlando Magic from 1993 to 1996. Together, they powered the Magic to the 1995 NBA Finals, though they were swept by the Houston Rockets. The following year, they looked poised for another run, but the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan during their historic 72-10 season, ended those hopes.
O’Neal and Bryant later joined forces with the Lakers from 1996 to 2004, creating one of the greatest duos in NBA history. Their partnership carried the Lakers to three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002, a three-peat no team has replicated since.
Ever since the BIG3 format launched, fans have speculated about a possible O’Neal appearance, but that dream seems unlikely. The 3×3 league, co-founded in 2017 by rapper Ice Cube, has featured several notable former NBA stars, yet O’Neal has never taken the court. During the interview, he learned that Cube’s son still hopes to see him join.
“Never,” O’Neal said flatly. “Too old.” Cube himself extended an invitation in 2024, but O’Neal isn’t budging. He admitted he no longer has the ability to dominate in the league the way he once did — a rare concession from a player who has always been defined by his confidence.