TV analysts have no easy job. While the greats like Stephen A. Smith make it look effortless, it takes real courage to take aim at the 7-foot beast that is Shaquille O’Neal. Fans remember Shaq for his backboard-smashing brutality. Now an analyst for ‘Inside the NBA‘, the 4-time champion has continued his run of excellence. Just like his days on the hardwood, Shaq finds himself surrounded by top talent at the TNT table. This is to point out a lesser-known fact about his fabled career. While the 4x NBA champion dominated the sport, his supporting cast deserves fair credit too. Playing alongside the likes of Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Penny Hardaway, Steve Nash, and LeBron James to name a few.

While this does not take away from the fact that Shaq dominated the game like nobody else, it does reiterate a point made by Charles Barkley not so long ago. A similar claim was also made by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith as he boldly berated Shaquille O’Neal on live TV.

Stephen A. Smith harsh on Shaq’s successes

During a recent on-air segment of ESPN’s ‘First Take‘ reporter and analyst Stephen A. Smith was quite critical of Shaq, as he compared the careers of Dwyane Wade and James Harden. Speaking of the two guards, Smith chalked up comparisons of the players, while discussing their impact on the NBA. Speaking of The Beard first, the Bronx native believed Harden was treated well in Houston for years.

Stating that he had gotten every player that he had wanted from Dwight Howard to Westbrook, Smith called out Harden by stating, “D Wade didn’t necessarily require that.”

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Going on to speak about the Miami Heat legend he stated, “He understood that the culture belonged to Pat Riley.”

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Continuing to compare the two, Stephen A. Smith believed that although Wade attracted players like LeBron James, he always knew it was his coach, Erik Spoelstra’s team first and foremost. Citing the major difference between the two, Smith believed that Dwyane Wade knew he needed to be the leader.

Giving an example of his leadership when Shaq joined the Heat, he stated, “I remember Shaq when he arrived, Shaq wasn’t in his prime anymore. It was D Wade that delivered the championship against the Dallas Mavericks.”

Smith confirms Barkley’s comments about Shaquille O’Neal

Stephen A. Smith’s comment on D-Wade delivering the championship coincided with remarks made by Barkley a few years ago.

During a segment of ‘Inside the NBA‘, Charles and Shaq got into a heated argument that prompted Chuck to call out Big Diesel. He stated, “You were riding on Dwyane and Kobe’s coattails.” 

In fits of rage, The Round Mound of Rebound downplayed Shaq’s importance in his 4 championship runs.

The statement was quite the burn. Coincidentally, it fits with Smith saying Wade delivered Shaq’s fourth during the 2006 NBA finals. Were Charles Barkley and Stephen A. Smith’s criticisms of Shaq fair?  What do you think?

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