Reflecting on some of the NBA’s greatest “what if” scenarios, Shaq responded to recent comments from McGrady, who admitted he never felt fully supported during his prime years. O’Neal not only agreed but doubled down with bold statements of his own, opening the door to a conversation about how many rings he might’ve collected with different stars by his side.

“But see, you gotta understand, when T-Mac was out there by himself, he didn’t really have room to operate,” Shaq explained. “Our guy had room because I had three people on me, right? You got three people on me.”

“T-Mac was getting double-, triple-, even quadruple-teamed. And you know, Kenny Smith always says Kobe didn’t get double- and triple-teamed a lot—he was free to roam and do his thing. So what T-Mac said, I believe it’s true. T-Mac was a bad boy.”

McGrady’s career remains one of the NBA’s great “what could have been” stories. Largely due to a lack of team support and injuries, he never made it past the first round of the playoffs until the very end of his career. But O’Neal made clear that McGrady’s individual talent was never in question—and with the right help, he could have reached legendary heights.

“So I agree with what T-Mac said,” Shaq continued. “Probably get a lot of flack, but I always say to myself—I think I could’ve got three in a row with T-Mac. I think I could’ve got two with Vince. Oh, I know I’d get six with Steph.”

O’Neal’s confidence is nothing new, but the specifics of his hypothetical championship haul grabbed attention. He believes a prime pairing with McGrady could have mirrored his iconic three-peat with Kobe Bryant from 2000 to 2002. As for Vince Carter, O’Neal claimed two rings would’ve been well within reach, praising the athleticism and scoring power Carter brought to the court.

But it was his statement about Stephen Curry that turned heads. Imagining what it would have been like to share the floor with the greatest shooter of all time, Shaq didn’t hesitate: six titles. Given how Curry’s gravity reshapes defenses, it’s hard to disagree. Defenders would have faced a nightmare scenario: leave Curry open and get burned, or double Shaq and allow Curry to exploit the space.

That duo—Curry and Shaq—might have been unstoppable. It’s the kind of pairing that could’ve forced the league to change the rules. With Curry stretching the floor and O’Neal dominating the paint, it’s no stretch to say they’d have redefined how the game was played—and potentially broken the sport in the process.

As Shaq sees it, elite scorers thrive when paired with dominant interior forces. If those scorers also happen to be playmakers like McGrady, athletic phenoms like Carter, or tactical revolutionaries like Curry, then NBA championship banners are all but guaranteed.

Carter, who enjoyed a storied 22-year career in the NBA, played against several generations of elite talent, including many of the sport’s greatest players. A member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, Carter competed at the highest level for multiple teams, including the Nets, and witnessed firsthand the evolution of the game. Before revealing his top three picks for the GOAT debate, Carter prefaced his response with a thoughtful statement.

“It ain’t no disrespect to anybody because they are all great, and you don’t have to argue back and forth because everybody has their opinion. That’s why we have to ask: Which rules are we using to tell the GOAT?“ Carter said, highlighting the complexity of the debate back in 2020 on The All The Smoke Podcast.

To illustrate his point, Carter used Michael Jordan as an example. “If we’re talking about today’s rules, Michael Jordan, who was battered and bruised every time he ran around a screen or drove through the paint, would be unstoppable. Under today’s rules, they couldn’t even touch him,” Carter explained. In Carter’s view, this hypothetical shift in playing conditions only solidifies Jordan’s position as the greatest of all time, envisioning even more dominant statistical performances in the modern era.

Carter’s top 3 NBA players of all time

Carter has weighed in on one of basketball’s most enduring debates: who are the greatest NBA players of all time? Drawing from firsthand experience as someone who played against the legends in his list, Carter’s perspective carries unique credibility. His top three? Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron, in that order.

“Whatever you said got ruffled feathers, and that’s okay,” Carter explained. “But I had the opportunity to play against Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. I got to see all of them in their element. I’ve got to go with MJ first, then Kobe, and finally LeBron.”

By placing Jordan at the top, Kobe in second, and LeBron in third, Carter aligned with a group of basketball icons who share a similar ranking. His insight adds weight to the ongoing conversation surrounding the NBA’s greatest players.

Nets retire Carter’s jersey

After six unforgettable seasons with the New Jersey Nets (now the Brooklyn Nets), Carter joined an elite group of players whose numbers have been retired by the franchise. At a special ceremony, his iconic No. 15 jersey was raised to the rafters. Reflecting on the honor, Carter expressed deep gratitude for his time with the team.

“This is truly something my family and I will cherish forever,” Carter said during his speech. “To be the seventh number to go up is insane. It is an honor to be up there with you gentlemen.”

After the game, reporters asked LeBron about the Raptors’ decision to retire Carter’s jersey, and the Lakers’ star offered a moving tribute, underscoring Carter’s impact on the sport and on Canada.

“[Carter’s jersey retirement] makes all the sense in the world, with what he’s done for this franchise, the impact that he had in this community, the way he changed how basketball is looked at in Canada. Well deserved,” James told reporters following the Lakers’ win, via Josh Lewenberg of TSN.

This season, LeBron matched Carter’s record for the most seasons played in the NBA, though James is likely to continue and break yet another record.

LeBron recalls Carter’s greatest moments

Along with his heartfelt tribute, LeBron was asked to name his favorite Vince Carter moments. He didn’t hesitate to recall a few iconic plays.

“He has so many [excellent moments]. The 50-point game versus the Sixers in the postseason,” LeBron said. “The two-hand windmill backwards dunk versus Indiana on Chris Mullin and Rik Smits. The lob in preseason down at University of North Carolina, got that windmill.”

“I mean, there’s a ton,” he continued. “There’s too many to name. And obviously, the dunk contest. When he shut down the dunk contest and he gave the ‘it’s over’ signal.”

Carter’s legacy with the Raptors

Widely regarded as the best player in Raptors history, Carter played six and a half seasons in Toronto after being drafted fifth overall in 1998. Carter won Rookie of the Year honors in 1998-99, led the Raptors to their first playoff appearance in 1999-2000, and their first playoff series win in 2000-01 and he represented Toronto in four All-Star games.

The relationship between both players has always been marked by deep respect and appreciation for each other’s talent on the court. For this reason and many others, Jordan didn’t hesitate to attend the ceremony of induction.

Vince Carter approached to greet His Airness, who was in the stands, and after a heartfelt handshake, the multi-time champion with the Chicago Bulls delivered a touching message to Carter: “Congratulations man.”

It’s worth noting that Carter was an eight-time NBA All-Star and delivered a memorable performance in the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest, which he won while showcasing his skills with the Toronto Raptors during his prime.

Carter and the gesture with Jordan at an All-Star Game

The 2003 All-Star Game was Michael Jordan’s last. At that time, one of the greatest players of all time was named as a reserve while playing for the Washington Wizards. However, Carter chose to give up his spot as a gesture of gratitude and tribute to Jordan.

“To me, that’s what I felt was the right thing to do,” Carter stated. “Go to the man himself and give him that position. Now, when I did that, Michael tells me no. He’s like ‘No, you earned it. You go ahead.’ I said, ‘Mike, look here. I am not walking out here on this court tonight and starting on this court and you’re sitting on the bench.”

Jordan’s advice to Carter

In statements to The New York Post, Michael Jordan recalled the advice he gave to a young Vince Carter about handling the hype that came with his immense talent.

“It’s funny, when this whole thing with the All-Star Game (VC gave up his starting spot), they’re trying to build up the hype between the two of us playing our first game against each other, he just pulled me aside and said, ‘Hey, be yourself, do what you do. Everything else’ll take care of itself.’ He came up to me and said that. It was just pretty neat.”, Jordan stated.

Some expected Davis to be the Kobe to LeBron’s Shaq or something like that. But he hasn’t been the alpha in Los Angeles despite James’ constant support and determination to take a step back and let him lead for the future.

Needless to say, that hasn’t sat well with the fans and some old-school players, who want Davis to be more aggressive and carry LeBron’s torch. But, for Vince Carter, that’s just never going to happen.

NBA News: Vince Carter Says Anthony Davis Has Too Much Respect For LeBron James To Try And Be A Leader

“I think this is a great opportunity for AD to now take the reins as LeBron has been saying and wanting to do in the organization for so long,” Carter said on his show.“The time is now. And if they’re able to do that, then you. I think my opinion, I think the organization, I have again a better assessment of what they really need.”

“I think it’s a respect thing,” Carter explained. “He respects who and what LeBron James has done in the game, but at the same time, you are allowed to and you should – nothing wrong with you respecting him – but when that guy that you respect is now trying to give you the reins and wants you to take over and be the go-to guy and he can compliment you, you should take that as an honor and run with it.”

But if Davis respects LeBron that much, then he should step up and allow him to take a step back. It’s unfair and unrealistic to hope that James could shoulder most of the load at this point in his career.

More than that, and even beyond the terrible shooting woes, his body language seems way off right now. Charles Barkley says that the Lakers have taken the joy and love for the game away from him, and he might be right on point.

That’s why former NBA All-Star Vince Carter urges Westbrook to adopt a different mindset. Otherwise, he’ll be out of the league without a chance to contribute to a championship team, just like Allen Iverson.

NBA News: Vince Carter Says Russell Westbrook Needs To Embrace A New Role

“Russ has been Russ for a very long time, and the toughest thing to accept is not now being in as a closer–you’re sitting there watching all of a sudden. Uncharted territory for him, if you would,” Carter said.

“And sometimes it takes a little getting used to because it’s a shot to your ego. I’m speaking from experience,” Carter added. “Starter. Go-to guy. All-Star. You get a new role and it sounds good and you buy in until you really have to buy in. Sometimes it’s not that easy and we all handle these situations differently.”

“Another guy, Allen Iverson, went through those situations for different teams where he did not want to come off the bench, and he could not handle coming off the bench,” Carter explained.“And that’s why a lot of us felt like, ‘Man, Allen Iverson should have still been in the league for a long time,’ but he did not want to be in that role. And I think Russ is in that right now. And, you know, it’s either you buy in or you don’t.”

Iverson was more beloved and respected around the league than Westbrook is nowadays. However, this is a ruthless business, and he was out of the NBA once he became a liability on the court.

So, if Westbrook doesn’t want his career to end as abruptly and infamously as Iverson’s, he might as well take a deep look in the mirror and realize he’s got to change his game. The Lakers haven’t done right by him, but he also needs to have some accountability.

But Davis, as great and impactful as he is, has historically struggled to stay healthy. Magic Johnson called him out and questioned his preparation in the offseason, motivating him to be back better than ever next season.

So, now that he’s reportedly ready to be on the floor and dominate again, former NBA star Vince Carter urged him to finally step up and give LeBron some help. That’s the only way the Lakers stand a chance in 2022/23.

NBA News: Vince Carter Says Anthony Davis Is Key For The Lakers

“He is huge to this puzzle for the Lakers because LeBron can beat box office if Anthony Davis is carrying the load,” Carter said on his podcast. “LeBron doesn’t feel like he has to do it all and exert all the time like when you need a bucket, when you need it to be LeBron. But it shouldn’t have to be that every night for 82 games when you have a Anthony Davis with the potential.”

“I think he’s been humbled now and I think he’s hungry. I think he understands the dynamic of being a Laker,” Carter added.“He’s been in playoff games. He understands what it takes and the level of focus and I think guys who should be in the league. I’m gonna use Carmelo, for example, who should be in the league, had to sit out. Yeah, they’re gonna respond. These guys are taking advantage of that opportunity. So I think he’ll be fine.”

Davis is one of the best two-way players of all time. He’s younger than LeBron and was supposed to lead the franchise when he’s gone. So, hopefully, he’ll finally put his injury woes behind, and be ready to carry the torch.

When Bill Russell made his all-time high of 11 NBA Championship Rings, it seems easy to say, but it is even harder to do it. In fact, Russell isn’t even atthe top 10 list of players with most NBA career points of all time.

That pretty much summarizes that the hardest thing to do in a team sport like basketball is to win a championship. Therefore, here its a list of NBA players who have scored the most career-points, who could possibly be at the top 10 of that list, but have failed to clinch an NBA Champioship title.

NBARingless players with most career-points

This NBA players list was divided into two categories. The current NBA players with most career-points without an NBA Ring and the former players who have scored the most but couldn’t won an NBA Championship title.

1. Carmelo Anthony

One of the most respected players among the current NBAplayers and the NBA legends. Also, one of the most talented to ever have played the game. However, Anthony hasn’t been lucky enough to be part of a Championship-contender team. However, he holds the second place of most career points with28,289 points of all time without an NBA Ring.

2. Chris Paul

One of the future Hall-of-Famers of this list. The 33-year-old player has made it several times to the NBA Playoffs, but fell short the same amount. Although, he has pulled up20,936 points, he still needs a little bit more lucky to clinch his first-ever NBA title before he retires.

3. James Harden

One of the many players who are in need to prove they are capable of winning an NBA Championship is James Harden. The 32-year-old guard even lowered his salary to help the Philadelphia 76ers make a Championship-contender team for the upcoming season. He has pulled up23,477 points in his career without an NBA Ring, yet.

4. Russell Westbrook

A player who could have helped to build up a Championship-contender team but failed to do so. Russell Westbrook has the talent to carry a team to an NBA Playoffs, but needs the mentality to win it. The 33-year-old guard has pulled up23,298 points without winning an NBA Championship title.

5.Karl Malone

One of the most amazing players of All-Time has the top record of this list. Malone has pulled up36,928 points in his 19-season NBA Career. Although he made it only three times to the NBA Finals, he failed to clinch the NBA Championship Ring.

6. Dominique Wilkins

The 9-time NBA All-Star played for the Atlanta Hawks, LA Clippers, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and Orlando Magic, however he couldn’t won an NBA Championship Ring. Wilkins pulled up26,668 points in his 16-season NBA Career without winning an NBA title.

7.Vince Carter

The 8-time NBA All-Star player accomplished many milestones during his 24-season NBA Career. In fact, he is the fourth All-Time player with most points in NBA history with25,728 points. The 1999 Rookie of Year wasn’t able to clinch one NBA Championship despite he played with 8 different NBA franchises.

8. Alex English

One of the most underrated players in the 80’s simply because he played with theMilwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers and theDenver Nuggets when they had no chance to win an NBA Championship. However, he was the top scorer of the 80’s with19,682 points. Overall, he made25,613 points in his 16-season NBA career.

While the likes of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry obviously had their spots secured, some big-name players and fan favorites were snubbed. This usually happens whenever you make a shortlist, no matter the topic we’re talking about.

Of course, some people were unhappy with some selections and seeing a number of historic players being left out at the expense of other names. Let’s take a look at some of the snubs of the NBA 75th anniversary team.

NBA 75th anniversary list: Biggest snubs

To be fair, it’s hard to make such a shortlist when the league has seen so many talented superstars. But it’s also true that there are some names who should have neverbeen omitted.

The biggest snubs of the NBA 75th anniversary team might be Vince Carter, Dwight Howard, Tony Parker, Tracy McGrady, Manu Ginobili, Penny Hardaway, Chris Bosh, Kyrie Irving, andPau Gasol.But the list could continue.

Additionally, Derrick Rose and Nikola Jokic are the only two players who have won the MVP award and were not included on the list. So, it’s understandable why fans will complain about some selections.

NBA 75th anniversary team: Full list

1. Hal Greer
2. Dirk Nowitzki
3. Bob Pettit
4. Oscar Robertson
5. Bill Russell
6. Giannis Antetokounmpo
7. Kevin Durant
8. Elvin Hayes
9. Jerry Lucas
10. Willis Reed
11. Nate Archibald
12. Bob Cousy
13. Dave Cowens
14. James Harden
15. Hakeem Olajuwon
16. Kevin McHale
17. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
18. George Mikan
19. John Stockton
20. Steve Nash
21. Charles Barkley
22. Julius Erving
23. George Gervin
24. Moses Malone
25. David Robinson
26. Magic Johnson
27. James Worthy
28. Wilt Chamberlain
29. Jerry West
30. Larry Bird
31. Michael Jordan
32. Scottie Pippen
33. Isiah Thomas
34. Clyde Drexler
35. Karl Malone
36. Patrick Ewing
37. Chris Paul
38. Allen Iverson
39. Tim Duncan
40. Kevin Garnett
41. John Havlicek
42. Sam Jones
43. Robert Parish
44. Bill Sharman
45. Bill Walton
46. Walt Frazier
47. Paul Arizin
48. Rick Barry
49. Nate Thurmond
50. Wes Unseld
51. Elgin Baylor
52. Dave Bing
53. Billy Cunningham
54. Dave DeBusschere
55. Pete Maravich
56. Earl Monroe
57. Shaquille O’Neal
58. Dolph Schayes
59. Lenny Wilkens
60. Dominique Wilkens
61. Dennis Rodman
62. Ray Allen
63. Dwyane Wade
64. Jason Kidd
65. Kobe Bryant
66. Gary Payton
67. Bob McAdoo
68. Paul Pierce
69. Stephen Curry
70. Reggie Miller
71. Kawhi Leonard
72. Damian Lillard
73. LeBron James
74. Carmelo Anthony
75. Anthony Davis

Clearly, Rob Pelinka and Frank Vogel think otherwise. They orchestrated a roster full of veterans who already know their role and place, who have plenty of playoff experience, and who’ll do whatever it takes to help the team achieve its goal.

In fact, some former players believe that the Lakers’ age and experience make them even more likely to win the NBA championship even if the team is way older than most of their opposition.

Frank Vogel Says He Doesn’t Care About Narratives

Recently, coach Frank Vogel chimed in and gave his thoughts on this controversy. Apparently, he’s unbothered by the outside noise and how much everybody wants to talk about the Lakers’ age:

“I’m not asked, I’m told that we’re old…I don’t really like the narrative,” Vogel said on Spectrum Sportsnet’s LakeShow podcast.“I don’t. These guys can play. We have great players on our team. Yes, some of them are towards the end of their career. But, they’re still producing at a high level. If you’re producing at a high level, it doesn’t matter how old you are.”

Vince Carter Says The Lakers Have An Edge

Former NBA player Vince Carter seems to agree with Vogel 100%. He claims that all those players already know their role and that, not so long ago, all contenders were mostly made out of veteran players:

“Oh, I love to hear it. I love to hear it. I’ve been saying this for a lot of years,” Carter said on ESPN’s The Jump.“We don’t look at the years. We look at the player. What are your eyes telling you? Your eyes are telling you that player can produce. Not because of their age. Because they can get it done – regardless of their age.”

“I get it. You have a lot of young guys and that’s the way the league has gone. But I walked into the NBA many, many years ago when there was two or three young guys and all were veterans. A coach walked in and it was understood. And that’s what Frank Vogel walks into. He walks into a training camp now, and guys understand how to play,” he concluded.

Sure, Carter knows one thing or two about being a veteran in the NBA, so this take doesn’t surprise coming from him. But, in all reality, maybe we should wait to see the Lakers first before ruling them out.

According to some of his doubters, his legacy was on the line, so he responded with the best game of his career. Not only did he play all 48 minutes but he also got the first-ever 45+ point, 15+ rebound triple-double in playoffs history.

However, as impressive as his performance was, he didn’t even make the cut of the highest-scoring performances in NBA history last night, although he does have a 50-point game in the playoffs. That’s why today, we’re going to let you know who did crack the list, including former greats such as Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.

Highest Scoring Performances In NBA Playoff History

50 Points:

+ Jayson Tatum
+ Karl Malone
+ Dominique Wilkins
+ Damian Lillard
+ Dirk Nowitzki
+ Bob Cousy
+ Bob Pettit
+ Vince Carter
+ Kobe Bryant
+ Bob McAdoo
+ Billy Cunningham
+ Kevin Durant
+ Jamal Murray (x2)
+ Wilt Chamberlain (x2)
+ Michael Jordan (x2)

51 Points:

+ Sam Jones
+ Ray Allen
+ Sleepy Floyd
+ Donovan Mitchell
+ Russell Westbrook
+ LeBron James

52 Points:

+ Jerry West
+ Allen Iverson

53 Points:

+ Wilt Chamberlain
+ Isaiah Thomas
+ Jerry West

54 Points:

+ Allen Iverson
+ John Havlicek
+ Michael Jordan

55 Points:

+ Damian Lillard
+ Rick Barry
+ Michael Jordan (x3)

56 Points:

+ Charles Barkley
+ Wilt Chamberlain
+ Michael Jordan

57 Points:

+ Donovan Mitchell

61 Points:

+ Elgin Baylor

63 Points:

+ Michael Jordan