The Denver Nuggets have established a commanding 3-0 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. Nikola Jokic has received widespread acclaim for his impressive performances throughout the NBA postseason. The 2x MVP has consistently showcased his skills, both offensively and defensively. While there are not many big men in the league today who can compete with the Serbian star, a few from the past may have fancied their chances against Jokic, including Shaquille O’Neal. The 4x NBA champion recently made a noteworthy statement regarding the Nuggets star that might not sit well with either Jokic or his country, Serbia.

After winning back-to-back MVPs, Nikola Jokic narrowly missed out on a three-peat as Joel Embiid claimed the Michael Jordan trophy this year. He has won numerous accolades in the league, except for an NBA championship. Jokic’s ultimate goal will be to eliminate LeBron James and the Lakers in order to have a shot at winning the most prestigious honor in the NBA.

Shaquille O’Neal brushes off a hypothetical Nikola Jokic matchup

During his appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Shaquille O’Neal was posed with a question regarding how Nikola Jokic would fare against him during his prime. Shaq, who stood over seven feet tall and was renowned for his dominance in the paint, responded with a blunt and potentially unfavorable reply that may not sit well with the Joker.

Shaquille O’Neal expressed his confidence by stating, “He wouldn’t have played me one-on-one. It doesn’t matter. I would have played him one-on-one. He’s crafty, probably would have got us, I am not known for defense but ain’t no way he can play me one-on-one. You could say it in the Yugoslavia or Slavic wherever he’s from, nobody played me one-on-one.”

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WATCH THIS STORY: Nikola Jokic share wholesome ring moment with daughter.

Despite acknowledging Nikola Jokic’s talent and skill in the NBA, the Lakers legend firmly believed that Jokic would not fare well against him in a one-on-one matchup. O’Neal’s comments about Nikola Jokic are likely to generate disappointment and disapproval among Jokic’s fellow countrymen in Serbia as well, considering how the 51-year-old referred to the country as. Serbia was a part of Yugoslavia before the breakup due to wars in the 90s. The country has gone through various hardships and O’Neal calling Serbia Yugoslavia might pinch the nerve of the Eastern Europeans.

Nikola Jokic bullying sides in the post-season

Nikola Jokic is proving himself as a standout center in the NBA, and his performances in the postseason have highlighted his status as one of the greatest overseas players in the league. The Denver Nuggets are on the verge of potentially sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers, with Jokic leading the way. He has been averaging impressive stats of 30.4 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game in the playoffs. Jokic and his team were able to defeat the Phoenix Suns with relative ease, and now they face the challenge of matching up against the Eastern Conference Champions. The upcoming matchup promises to be intriguing and exciting to witness.

Jokic will also probably like to shut O’Neal up for good as well. This wasn’t the first time the Lakers legend had brought up Jokic. A few days ago, O’Neal shared a video of the Joker’s push on Suns new owner, Matt Ishbia.

Do you think Nikola Jokic will be able to win a one-on-one battle against Eastern Conference Champions? Let us know in the comments.

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