There is a change happening in the NBA. For Shaquille O’Neal, the reason for such a change is simple and rather inevitable. Who wouldn’t want their favorite athlete to play forever? But it just isn’t possible and that’s what makes Shaq sad.

During ‘Inside the NBA’, he got emotional over Curry. “My favorite player, sadly one day, is not gonna be here. Like, I wish he wasn’t 35 years old. But, listen, though he’s 35, he’s still able to do things like this – Full-steam ahead, one-on-one, layup – Enjoy this guy while you still can. Because there’s never been another player like him… I was thinking, him, KD, and LeBron, they’re all gonna be gone one day.”

However, resident Golden State Warriors hater, Charles Barkley, was quick to offer a sobering reality check about the entire situation. “All great players go.” Even though Shaq would respond with an “I know,” Barkley would continue with his point. But, rather than pile on hate, Chuck offered some beautiful insight about the evolution of the game.

“Magic Johnson’s gone. Larry Bird’s gone. Michael Jordan‘s gone…That’s the beauty. We got guys, we got my man Shai Gilgeous, he gonna be there. Ja’s gonna be there for a healthy season. Luka. That’s the one thing about sports, man. It don’t stop. There’s always going to be great players in sports,” a cheerful Barkley said. O’Neal, however, wasn’t fully sold.

“Not like Steph.” But the Chuckster had one last bullet in his chamber. “We said the same thing about Michael Jordan, then LeBron came along…Then Kobe came along. There’s always going to be great players.”

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However, is it surprising to see Shaq’s love for Curry? After all, in December 2023, O’Neal said that Curry needs to be a part of the G.O.A.T discussion. Having been a part of the sport for a long time, Shaquille O’Neal was of the opinion that the GSW player needs to be lauded for his consistency. On a similar note, Stephen Curry looks up to O’Neal. In fact, he once stated his wish to play with Shaq, considering he was a physical specimen and very dominant.

O’Neal and Barkley’s discussion: Do playoffs paint a different picture than the regular season?

Fans saw Steph and LeBron struggle throughout the last regular season. Eventually, both the veterans would end on the 6th and 7th seed, respectively. However, the playoffs were an entirely different story for the two players as they faced off in the Conference Semis.

While the end result was a new player ascending to all-time great status in Nikola Jokić, the playoffs as a whole saw some familiar faces dominate the proceedings. Could this season follow a similar script? If yes, some major moves might be coming for these teams. With the season reaching its ramping-up period, and the trade deadline looming, it promises to be an ultra-exciting time in the NBA.

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Do you think Charles Barkley’s stance holds substance for the future of the NBA? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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