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7 ft Shaq Awed by 6’11 European Giant Who Schooled OKC’s Chet Holmgren in Pelicans’ Rebounding Masterclass

Published 04/22/2024, 11:05 AM EDT

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A massive battle recently took place on the court. Among the onlookers was none other than the respected Shaquille O’Neal, whose immense 7-foot appearance was almost eclipsed by the sight of a 6’11 European bigfoot. So what did Shaq witness?

This encounter, which took place during the Pelicans’ master class in rebounds against OKC, highlighted the strength of one of the most threatening athletes in the league. Even the tall Shaq was in shock when he saw the 6’11 European giant outplaying Chet Holmgren when the Pelicans faced OKC.

Shaquille O’Neal’s acknowledgment of Valančiūnas’s ability

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The fight beneath the boards was the center of attention during the Pelicans’ crucial game against OKC. The 6’11 Lithuanian behemoth Jonas Valančiūnas made an appearance and took control of the windows, solidifying himself as the power player. It was astonishing to see the European giant’s skill, even for a tall man like Shaquille O’Neal.

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The 52-year-old icon, Shaquille O’Neal, shared his thoughts on the “NBA on TNT”. O’Neal stated, “So I think you know Valanciunas could definitely have his way. They’re a great road team. They have confidence. There’s no panic in this team I think they’re going to be more confident than OKC. Both teams played okay shot okay from the 3, 28 for New Orleans 31 for OKC.” He continued, “But I think this bunch is very very confident. But I need CJ to have a breakout game. You know he hasn’t been he hasn’t been playing well the last couple of games.”

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Basketball buffs found Shaq’s review of the play to be insightful since it focused on the art of rebounding. Big men can play an invaluable shape in determining NBA games, as illustrated by Valančiūnas’ masterful performance.

Shaq’s match analysis and Jonas Valančiūnas’ defending

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A post of Nikola Jokic crushing Jonas Valanciunas, the center for the New Orleans Pelicans, was shared by Shaquille O’Neal on Instagram. The title of the story’s video, “Nikola O’Neal,” hints at Shaq’s incredible low-post skill that ate up hundreds of defenders. O’Neal uploaded the video without adding any text, as is customary for him. “Who do you choose, Shaq or Joker?” was the caption posted by “@officialsportfiesta,” who released the clip.

The big man for the Pelicans, Jonas Valanciunas, attempted to guard Jokic in the mid-range zone in the video. But the Joker, with his heavy build and lower-body strength, repeatedly knocked into Valanciunas by slamming against his chest. The Nuggets center uses his lower body and strength in his shoulders to get near to the basket. The Pelicans Center flew out of limits as Jokic scored with ease, unable to stop the attack. Shaq refers to this as a “bully ball” in this case. The massive 6’11” and 250+ pound Valanciunas was unable to absorb the impact.

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Written by:

Arya Patil

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Arya is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. She skillfully combines her academic acumen with a passion for the game that she developed over years of watching the ups and downs of the NBA. Arya is a seasoned journalist who provides fans with a detailed look at the league's inner workings.
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Edited by:

Caroline Joseph