In the NBA, few voices carry more authority in the paint than Shaquille O’Neal’s- and when The Diesel talks big-man fundamentals, everyone listens. After watching Deandre Ayton muscle Rudy Gobert and hold him to just two points, Shaq’s verdict wasn’t all praise. Because in Shaq’s world, good isn’t good enough- dominance is the standard.

The Lakers’ 128–110 win over the Timberwolves had all the makings of a statement night for Ayton- the kind of game that could remind everyone why Los Angeles traded for him in the first place. He anchored the defense, outworked Gobert on the glass, and posted a steady double-double. But if you tuned into ESPN afterward, you wouldn’t have known it.

On the postgame broadcast, Shaquille O’Neal- never one to sugarcoat post play- broke down Ayton’s performance with his trademark mix of insight and blunt honesty. “He’s going to be aggressive. Now look right, very, very decisive. Okay, the doubles’ coming. So what? Jump hook. I’m not getting the double, jump hook… when your man goes to block a shot, you always got to get that off. I don’t wanna see that shot again,” Shaq yelled, hammering home what he calls “Order on the court.”

That’s classic O’Neal, showing tough love wrapped in sound effects and punchlines. But beneath the humor sits a real basketball question: can Ayton actually become the kind of dominant, relentless big man Shaq believes he should be? Because if you strip away the TNT theatrics, the film tells a truth Ayton’s been fighting since Phoenix.

He’s too talented to blend in. In tonight’s 116-115 Lakers close call win over the Wolves, Ayton scored 17 points on 72.7% shooting with 10 rebounds, while Gobert managed just 9. Steady improvement? Sure. But consistency… that’s the missing word.

O’Neal’s criticism isn’t new. After Ayton’s shaky Lakers debut, he gave him a thumbs-down on national television. “Listen, DeAndre, ‘Domin-Ayton,’ that performance you had yesterday, I need you to step it up, my boy,” Shaq said.

The Diesel continued, “You’ve got to do three things. You got to rebound, and you got to block shots, and you got to dominate… You had a small guy guarding you in the post. You turn around and shoot a fadeaway. That’s not going to get it done.”

It wasn’t mean-spirited. It was just mentorship in the rawest form. Ayton, to his credit, didn’t deflect. He called himself a “confusing big,” admitting he’s still figuring out how to balance spacing and fitting into a system led by now-injured Luka Doncic and LeBron James.

Shaquille O’Neal’s standard is about the mentality

These are generous playmakers, but they demand precision. Ayton is striving to reshape the reputation that has trailed him since his time in Phoenix. Meanwhile, Shaq’s message has remained unchanged for 20 years: dominance wins games, and everything else is just noise. That’s why his criticism of Ayton feels deeply personal.

O’Neal doesn’t measure greatness by box scores. He measures it by presence. That’s why 17 points on efficient shooting might impress fans, but not him. He wants Ayton to control the game’s gravity, not adjust politely. 

It’s a tall order for a player still building chemistry on a new roster. The Lakers’ spacing with Doncic and LeBron is growing, and Ayton’s timing on screens and rolls has been sharper by the game. But Shaq’s right that the Lakers didn’t bring him to just be solid.

They brought him to redefine the middle. Ayton’s contract of two years at $16.2 million isn’t for a role player. It’s for someone who tilts playoff series. Someone who can turn defense into transition, and frustration into fear. The kind of player Shaq was, and the kind he believes Ayton still can be.

Whether that happens will depend on more than numbers. It’ll depend on the edge of that invisible switch between playing well and taking over. For now, Ayton’s learning. And Shaq? He’s just making sure the lesson sticks.

Because in the Church of the Big Man, O’Neal still preaches one truth: you don’t ask for the ball. You demand it.