Former foes to future co-workers. That’s the relationship dynamic between Shaquille O’Neal and Kendrick Perkins. The jabs between the two continued this season as well as the analysts called each other out for poor takes. Starting in 2026, Inside the NBA shifts from TNT to ESPN, uniting Shaq and Perkins under one network. Yet, it may come as a surprise to many that the Lakers’ legend agreed with Perkins; this union has been possible thanks to Chef Curry.

After the game 7 performance against the Houston Rockets, Stephen Curry averaged 24.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.8 assists while shooting 47.1% from the field and nearly 40% from deep. Faced with a win-or-go-home situation, Curry scored 14 of his 22 points in the final stint, going 5-6 from the field and leading the Dubs to an impressive 103-89 win over the Rockets. Building on that masterclass, Perkins wants the 4x NBA champion part of the GOAT debate.

“Steph Curry is one championship and one Finals MVP away from entering the GOAT conversation. Real talk. He’s one championship and one Finals MVP away from entering the GOAT conversation. And I would dare somebody to try and argue and make me seem like I’m saying something ridiculous.” This was on First Take, where the Celtics legend added the reasonable conditions for Curry to be part of the GOAT debate.

Shaquille O’Neal shared the post on his Instagram story, and without saying a word, supported Perk’s claims. “What he has done for the game, he has changed the game forever, forever. He’s given life to all the guys that are under 6’3″, right? Not just because of his shooting ability, but because of what he brings to the table night in and night out on a day-to-day basis as a true professional.”

The GOAT debate and conversation started once again after his display in the Olympics. Back-to-back clutch games in the semifinals and finals raised his stock. Despite 4 championships to his name, Curry did not get the due credit because two of those were won when Kevin Durant played in Golden State. But after proving in 2022 that he could win a chip after Durant left, Curry now has the opportunity to show that he can also win without his Splash Brother Klay, hence cementing himself as the ‘man’ on a title team.

Shaquille O’Neal shared the same sentiment about Steph being part of the GOAT debate

While Michael Jordan remains the touchstone—six championships, five MVPs, and a global cultural footprint—icons from every era vie for GOAT consideration. Kobe Bryant, lauded as “MJ on steroids” by Reggie Miller for his killer instinct and five rings; Kareem Abdul‑Jabbar with six titles and the all‑time scoring mark; Wilt Chamberlain’s statistical monolith; and LeBron James, whose four championships and longevity fuel his case.

In that pantheon, few voices carry as much weight as Shaquille O’Neal’s. Earlier in March, Shaq stated why Steph Curry deserved a shout in this debate. “As the supreme leader of the Big Man Alliance, I demand you fans to start putting Steph Curry in that greatest of all time conversation,” O’Neal said during a game break on TNT. “I’ve played against Mike, played with Kobe, played against and with LeBron, they’re all great. But at some point, you’ve got to put Steph Curry in that category.”

Shaq’s endorsement follows Steve Nash’s recent defense of Curry’s revolutionary impact. Two MVPs, four NBA titles, one Finals MVP, and a transformative shooting range that reshaped defensive schemes across the league. Curry’s Olympic heroics—back‑to‑back clutch performances in the 2024 Paris semifinals and finals—further burnished his résumé, as he averaged 20 PPG in the knockout stages en route to gold, a run only similarly matched by Jordan in 1984.

Next for the Warriors is another tough matchup against the Wolves. A hungry Anthony Edwards, alongside Rudy Gobert, awaits Curry and co. for another mouthwatering clash. Curry’s next performance could tip the scales of the GOAT debate once again. A signature victory over another title contender would not just boost his stock; it might finally force the era’s steadiest sharpshooter into the conversation alongside Jordan, LeBron, and Kobe.