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Shaquille O’Neal Issues Stephen Curry-Reality Check on Luka Doncic: “Great Player But…”

Published 02/06/2024, 7:56 PM EST

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Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd has triggered some narratives with his new Luka Doncic take. The former point guard did not hesitate to put the Slovenian in the same conversation as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan. However, Kidd believes Doncic is better than Dirk Nowitzki, who brought the first-ever championship to Dallas. In an attempt to put forward the fans’ mindset, Shaquille O’Neal chimed in and put an end to these sudden raging comparisons. 

Shaq shared on TNT, “Little too early for that. Great player, doing a lot at 24 but, the key is consistency. I seen a lot of guys playing great the first four years and you don’t hear from them.” To justify his take, he brought in Golden State Warriors and NBA icon Stephen Curry. Shaq added, “I don’t think you can start putting him [Doncic] in the category yet. Not before my boy Steph Curry”

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Well, Shaquille O’Neal has proved once again that he is a fan of the 3-point leader. He has supported Curry for quite some time now. In December, after the 4x champion defeated the Boston Celtics single-handedly, Shaq did not hesitate to put Curry above himself in the all-time list. He was also criticized for putting Curry in the same conversation as MJ and Bryant. Well, it looks like he has a stronger case now.

Did Dirk Nowitzki himself agree that Luka Doncic is a better player than him?

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Nowitzki’s nineteen-year contribution to the Dallas Mavericks is a badge of honor that you cannot easily underestimate. He could deliver only a single championship, but it was in one of the toughest eras ever in the NBA. He single-handedly managed to defeat LeBron James’ Miami Heat and Kobe Bryant’s Lakers, in the same year in postseason. It is a ring you cannot take for granted. However, Nowitzki himself agreed that Doncic is a better player than him, despite all the above achievements.

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The 2011 champion shared about Doncic, “He’s such a special talent and so good already at leading the floor at just 21, 22, and his just unbelievable all-around game…I would say he is better than me now than I’ve ever been in my prime,”. Even though Shaquille O’Neal and the other co-hosts do not agree with Kidd’s take, Nowitzki himself shared the above words a few years back.

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What do you think? Is it too early for a comparison?

Watch this story: “Who has reached 10,000 career points faster than Luka Doncic?”

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Written by:

Rohan Dharmalingam

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I could have never imagined getting a shoutout from Los Angeles Lakers icon Shaquille O'Neal and the rap legend 50 Cent on Instagram. But they say 'Dreams Do Come True' right? This is what EssentiallySports has given me. Covering trade rumors, contract signings, lives of NBA superstars and legends has been my go-to thing.
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Edited by:

Daniel D'Cruz