Shaquille O’Neal ushered in a dominant era in the NBA like no other. With Rookie of the Year and MVP honors, the resume showcases the capabilities of the Big Aristotle explicitly. He is certainly one of the best power centers in the league’s history. O’Neal received high praise from Hakeem Olajuwon, but many, including NBA coach Sam Cassell, believe that other NBA greats surpass Shaq. Draymond Green, who was involved in a humorous exchange with O’Neal, was upset by Cassell’s All-Time list of centers.

“I haven’t seen Bill Russell but I’ve seen The Captain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. I’ve seen The Captain play. I think he’s right behind him. I think Shaq is right behind Kareem,” Cassell said, via The Draymond Green Show. Seemingly upset, Green acknowledged Cassell’s opinion and said, “That hurts my feelings because Shaq is my all-time favorite player in history. So, I can’t roll with you on that, but I respect it.” 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar remained the leading scorer in the league for more than two decades until King James broke the record in the 2022-23 season. The 6X MVP winner won NBA titles with both the Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. Bill Russell and Tim Duncan are also two names that are often mentioned on the list. While many will agree with Green, others still consider Abdul-Jabbar as the greatest center of all time. 

Nevertheless, O’Neal remains iconic for his powerful dunks and unprecedented athleticism, securing his place as one of the best centers in NBA history. Though Green has praised O’Neal, he also made a bold claim on O’Neal’s podcast, The Big Podcast. The Lakers legend was clearly unimpressed with Green’s remark and made his feelings known to the Golden State Warriors star.

Shaquille O’Neal shrugged off Draymond Green’s bold claim to defeat Lakers

Whenever NBA veterans come together, it’s more common than you might think for them to dive into GOAT debates or hypothetical matchups. During the conversation, Green discussed a hypothetical matchup between the Lakers’ featuring the dynamic duo, O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, and the 2010 Golden State Warriors roster.

Green mentioned he would guard O’Neal and began suggesting different defensive techniques to stop him, leaving O’Neal in disbelief. Before Green could finish explaining his plan, O’Neal asked him to stop. Green’s bold claims and O’Neal’s reaction sparked a hilarious response from the fans.

O’Neal and Bryant led the Lakers to three championship titles in the 2000s. Had O’Neal not left the Lakers in 2004, the duo might have had another shot at the championship. O’Neal’s reaction is indeed understandable here.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.