Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most self-assured players in NBA history, and with good reason. Shaq would still assert that he would win if he were pitted against today’s biggest talents. But what if he faces a player who is just as good at painting as he was when he was at his best?
Shaq was questioned about three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who has transformed the style of play for seven-footers, in an interview with the Ausamerican Aces. He has one of the greatest basketball IQs in the world and is not just a fantastic rebounder but also a superb playmaker.
But Shaq has consistently maintained that he is the greatest big man to have ever played in the NBA. He has frequently referred to himself as the “Big Man Alliance’s” president. Shaq responded calmly when asked what his stat line would be if he faced Jokic, keeping that in mind.
Shaquille O’Neal talks about Nikola Jokic matchup
O’Neal started off by stating that he would score just as many goals as he would in any other match. But maybe he understood that the Serbian wasn’t simply “any other” player, therefore it was a strange response. He is among the greatest players to have ever set foot on an NBA court.
Shaq stated: “Playoffs, I would probably be 40, 14 rebounds, 3 blocks,” “You know… he’s a different player. I probably wouldn’t have stopped him either, because they [the Denver Nuggets] definitely would have run pick and roll. I would have to go off on him, and then we would get back, he would have shot a lot of jumpers.”
“Hopefully he’s not going to be in the game a lot, because first 10 possessions I am going at him. He’s either going to have to foul me or double me. So, if he fouls me two or three times, he would definitely be on the bench.”
“He [Jokic] would probably average 27, 30, because he’s a great shooter… If he was a post player and I would have had to focus just on him, then, he wouldn’t get that much,”
In that particular area, Jokic easily eclipses Shaq. Despite his many talents, the Diesel was not renowned for his shooting, something the Joker is very good at. However, the Los Angeles Lakers star went on to say that Jokic wouldn’t have Shaq’s defensive impact.
