Shaquille O’Neal Once Dropped Unbelievable Praise Comparing Former Teammate With Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant: “In That Category Before He Got Hurt”
Follow Us
NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal played with many legendary teammates throughout his career. From winning championships with Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade to falling just short with LeBron James, the four-time champion was truly blessed. However, there is one former teammate of his who goes unnoticed.
O’Neal was drafted by the Orlando Magic in 1992 and stayed there for four years. While he was in Orlando, he was part of one of the most exciting young duos in the league along with Penny Hardaway. The Magic reached the NBA Finals in 1995 and lost to the historic Chicago Bulls in 1996.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
After that disappointment, O’Neal signed with the Los Angeles Lakers and formed an iconic duo with Kobe Bryant. However, Shaq felt Penny was in the same category as Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan before injuries hampered his career. A few years ago, O’Neal and Penny reminisced about their days in Orlando.
Flat Earth Believer Shaquille O’Neal Tries to Destroy Science: “I’ve Lived on a Lake for 30 Years and I’ve Never Seen the Lake Move to the Left or Right”
ESPN released a 30-for-30 film in 2016 on the Orlando Magic team of the 90s. When asked why they were revisiting that time, Shaq dropped unbelievable praise on Hardaway. Shaq said, “We got lost in the shuffle as one of the greatest one-two punches in history. We wanted to make sure people didn’t forget. People talk about Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, Penny was in that category before he got hurt.”
Penny agreed with the fact that they were forgotten. He said, “We felt like the story needed to be told. We were one of the forgotten teams. We wanted people to remember that we were pretty good.”
Shaquille O’Neal went on to achieve great success after leaving the Orlando Magic
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
While O’Neal left for pastures new, Penny Hardaway’s rising stock came crashing down after a devastating knee injury. He could never return to his previous glory. Meanwhile, O’Neal established himself as one of the greatest centers of all time. The Los Angeles Lakers won three championships in a row with O’Neal being named the Finals MVP each time.
Trending
Shaq Warns Lakers Locker Room Of Jeanie Buss Game Plan If Darvin Ham & Co Fail Vs Nuggets
April 24, 2024 09:42 PM EDT
Heat Injury Report: Latest On Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson Ahead of Game 2 vs Celtics
April 24, 2024 02:46 PM EDT
Joel Embiid Banned By Empire State Building After Dangerous Incident On Court With Mitchell Robinson
April 26, 2024 02:59 AM EDT
“So Rigged”: All Hell Breaks Loose as Jamal Murray Forces LeBron James’ Lakers Into Bitter Embarrassment
April 23, 2024 06:21 AM EDT
“It’s Just Basketball”: LeBron James Rambles About Anxiety After Lakers Fall To Nuggets At Home
April 26, 2024 07:55 AM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
He was eventually traded to the Miami Heat in 2004 where he won another championship. O’Neal also suffered various injuries at the end of his career. Both O’Neal and Hardaway have kept themselves busy after retiring from the NBA. While O’Neal has established a great business empire for himself, Hardaway is a coach in the American Athletic Conference.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
WATCH THIS STORY: 3 wild old tweets by Shaquille O’Neal that he would much rather forget now
What might have been one of the greatest duos of all time, came to an abrupt end due to various reasons. What are your thoughts on Shaq comparing Penny to Kobe and Jordan? Let us know in the comments.
Written by:
