Nikola Jokic has been the undisputed dominator of the NBA over the past few seasons, leading the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever championship and winning three MVP awards. That success has led to comparisons of the Serbian player’s impact with that of another legendary center from the past: Shaquille O’Neal. However, former NBA champion Jeff Teague has made his opinion clear about the Los Angeles Lakers icon.
In a recent episode of the Club 520 Podcast, a listener remarked that O’Neal would not have the same success in today’s NBA that he had during his playing days and might be overshadowed by Jokic. Teague immediately reacted, saying: “Boy, you crazy as hell! Have you ever seen Shaq?”
Jeff then recalled what the Lakers legend was like during his early NBA years. “Y’all don’t know, Shaq,” he said. “When he was 22, he was faster than Jokic, jump higher than Jokic, just as skilled. You all crazy as hell.”
Teague also delved into the idea of O’Neal playing in the current NBA. “Can you imagine Shaq? The centers are 6’9” now, Shaq was 300 pounds,” he noted. He then acknowledged, “And I ain’t even the biggest Shaq fan.”
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal at the Los Angeles Lakers.
Finally, the NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021 praised O’Neal for his impact on the league. “Shaq was too dominant, it ain’t even close. You had to see Shaq,” said Teague. However, he clarified that these impressive performances were during the center’s peak years, with the Orlando Magic, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Miami Heat—not during his final years. “Don’t look at the Suns’ Shaq… Go watch Shaq when he was Shaq… Anyway, shout-out to Shaq,” he concluded.
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O’Neal’s impact on the NBA
Shaquille O’Neal played in the NBA for 19 seasons, and for much of that time, he was a central figure in the league, on par with the greatest legends to ever play basketball. After being selected as the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, O’Neal quickly became a key player for the team, averaging more than 23 points per game in his rookie season.
After four seasons in Orlando, Shaq joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996, where he formed a successful—and at times controversial—duo with Kobe Bryant. Together, they won three consecutive NBA titles between 2000 and 2002, with the center being named Finals MVP three times and league MVP once. However, conflicts with Bryant led to O’Neal’s departure to the Miami Heat in 2004.
The final great chapter of his career came with the Heat, where, alongside Dwyane Wade, he helped lead the team to their first NBA title in 2006. From there, his performance gradually declined, leaving unmemorable stints with the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics during the latter years of his career.
Shaq’s comparison with Jokic
Four years after Shaquille O’Neal’s retirement, the Denver Nuggets signed Nikola Jokic. The Serbian center entered the NBA in 2015 and, after a brief adjustment period, quickly emerged as one of the league’s brightest talents. A few years later, he had become a permanent All-Star, winning three MVP awards, a Finals MVP, and leading the Nuggets to their first NBA Championship in 2023.
Now in his tenth NBA season, Jokic is averaging 21.5 points per game, 10.9 rebounds, and 7.2 assists. In comparison, Shaquille O’Neal finished his career in 2011 with averages of 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.
While the two centers have similar numbers, a key difference lies in Jokic’s versatility, which allows him to break away from the traditional mold of a center and contribute as a playmaker. This is reflected in the significant gap in assists between the two players. To O’Neal’s credit, however, he boasts four NBA titles won with two different teams.
