Shaquille O’Neal Doesn’t Spare Kevin Durant From Responsibilities, Dumps Huge Burden Despite Playoffs Exit

14 post-season appearances and two of those ending in championships, yet Shaquille O’Neal expects more from Kevin Durant. With JJ Redick on The Big Podcast, Shaq declared he wants to see a breakout season from KD. Maybe like the 2011–12 season, when he made it to the NBA finals for the first time. This week’s podcast was probably recorded before the Phoenix Suns were swept by Minnesota on Sunday. But Shaq laid out his feelings to live vicariously through KD too.

Adam Lefkoe wanted Shaq and JJ Redick to name the potential breakout stars of the playoffs this post-season. While he admitted his favorite youngsters are leading the charge, Shaq said, “I’m looking for KD to break through.“ O’Neal’s reason for this was very heartbreaking, too. “‘Cause we we have similar things we had to go through.”

The Big Aristotle is referring to the doubts both he and Durant have endured for most of their careers. KD’s two titles in 2017 and 2018 were considered tainted because he won them with the Warriors in their prime. His difficulty making it farther in the postseason recently has led many to question if he’s past his prime.

That’s also something O’Neal can relate to, which surprised Redick. O’Neal claimed that when he left the Lakers, people thought he was all peak and had no longevity. So he had to buckle down and prove them wrong with his fourth ring with the Miami Heat.

Shaq’s expectations exceed those elsewhere

For Redick, the breakout stars in this playoff were going to be Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jayson Tatum. Shaq couldn’t disagree. He even agreed that Anthony Edwards could be the future face of the NBA.

Shaq’s favorite “dog” sent Kevin Durant and the Suns packing in four games this playoffs, just after Shaq recorded The Big Podcast. So his expectations for KD didn’t come true. He was instead hyped for Ant. He even projected Edwards as the one who could beat Nikola Jokic, the one Shaq and Redick unanimously agreed was the breakout star of the 2023 playoffs.

His other favorite player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has been his MVP pick for a month, against all expectations. His choice was seen as shocking at first until SGA made it as an MVP finalist.

Meanwhile, it’s the first time that KD, along with Steph Curry and LeBron James, hasn’t been in the second round of the playoffs since 2005. This, according to most, is the end of the era dominated by the Big 3. Now Ant, SGA, and Tatum are projected as the future of the league, and Shaq agrees.