Mad Dog and Zion Williamson Left Blindsided as Shaquille O’Neal Drops Genius Confession in Public

Published 12/23/2023, 12:34 AM EST

Don’t be fooled by ‘Mr Sensitive.’ Shaquille O’Neal is a mind game mastermind who could put Hannibal Lector to shame. He uses it for good though, specifically to get NBA pros to improve. Since he’s brought back The Big Podcast, he boasted about his success rate. The latest prey is Zion Williamson. O’Neal and his TNT bestie, Charles Barkley have turned their tough love on the Pelicans powerhouse.

The former MVPs stirred a debate to make Zion take diet and conditioning seriously. The 23-year-old also had his curt response to the veterans. That was exactly what O’Neal wanted. “When I said that about Zion, I already know what’s going to happen. He either going to be pissed off and say f**k Shaq or he’s going to be real sensitive. That’s it, I already know,” Shaq told Adam Lefkoe.

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Earlier, he told Lefkoe that people underestimate him as a former athlete-turned-NBA analyst. “Me being the master marketer that I am I did what I had to do so y’all talk about us,” he boasted. “Like for example Mad Dog and them they just play right into my hand. I know people was going to talk about it… ” And talk they did.

ESPN’s Chris “Mad Dog” Russo commented that Shaq is the “fifth-best center” in the NBA. That riled up Stephen A. Smith, Jay Williams, and Twitterati. His comment stemmed from Shaq calling himself an authority on the ‘Big Man’ sphere when talking about Zion.

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But Shaq is unaffected. His goal is to stir a debate. Another NBA star pointed that out too.

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Kwame Brown breaks down Shaq-ism

Similar to how he triggered Williamson, Shaquille O’Neal turned the NBA community upside down by hyping underrated player, Bol Bol over the next big thing in the league aka Victor Wembanyama. But Kwame Brown said that’s what Shaq does.

With his commentary, Brown believes Shaq is spurring both Wemby and Bol Bol to prove him right/wrong. The former #1 pick believes that’s how Big Diesel provoked Dwight Howard with eyebrow-raising statements. He said very few have taken the bait and seen O’Neal for the mastermind he is.

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From the sounds of it, Shaq cashes in on the misconception people have about him. And again, play right into his hands.

Shaquille O’Neal Ditches OG Crew In Surprise Revamp Of Iconic Podcast Series

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Written by:

I was 7 when I saw 'Space Jam' but didn't know till the third rewatch the lead actor is actually a living basketball legend. It was while studying journalism that my friend would go on about the Warriors from Golden State. Keen on athletes' personas outside their arenas, it was Stephen Curry's confidence and philanthropy that drew me to follow the news on NBA pros and explore sports media.

Edited by:

Aakash Nair

Mad Dog and Zion Williamson Left Blindsided as Shaquille O’Neal Drops Genius Confession in Public

Kwame Brown breaks down Shaq-ism

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