Shaquille O’Neal Bashes Kyrie Irving for Not Sacrificing Amidst James Harden Trade Rumors: “The Big 3 Was Put Together to Win Championships”

Shaquille O’Neal enjoyed his NBA career playing some of the biggest NBA legends of all time. O’Neal shared the locker room with stars at the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and other franchises. A strong roster supported him at both the Lakers and the Heat. O’Neal recently spoke about an NBA star who could break up a dominating trio at a franchise.

Shaquille O’Neal slammed Kyrie Irving for refusing to sacrifice his choices to keep the Brooklyn Nets team together. O’Neal made his comments about Irving and the Nets trio on the ‘Inside the NBA’ show, where his co-hosts also discussed the Nets’ situation. He called upon Irving to make sacrifices for the greater good and success of the team.

O’Neal said, “I did all that, I sacrificed. I don’t want y’all to get sick. I don’t want my momma to get sick, I don’t want my boys to get sick. So I sacrificed for the team. The big three was put together to win championships.”

He added saying, “Who knows what can happen next year. Who knows what can happen the year after that. When you have that chance, Kenny, you know, when you got that slot, you have to go for it.”

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Kyrie Irving returned to the Nets lineup against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Irving missed out on the start of the 2021-22 season due to personal reasons. Irving joined the Nets in 2019, Kevin Durant followed him to the franchise, with James Harden joining them in 2021 to complete a commanding trio.

Shaquille O’Neal forming a dominating duo alongside Kobe Bryant at the Los Angeles Lakers

The Orlando Magic drafted Shaquille O’Neal as their first pick in 1992. He played for the Magic until 1996 but failed to win an NBA title with the franchise. As a free agent in 1996, O’Neal grabbed the opportunity to leave the Magic and signed for the Los Angeles Lakers on a $121 million contract.

O’Neal lined up with a young Kobe Bryant at the Lakers. Rival NBA franchises feared the prospects of facing the menacing duo.

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The Lakers finally tasted success when O’Neal and Bryant led the franchise to three NBA title victories between 2000 to 2002.