Shaquille O’Neal’s voice has always been a towering presence in the world of basketball, much like his 7’1” frame. Never one to mince words, the Hall of Famer’s candid takes often make headlines, whether he’s critiquing modern players or sharing wisdom from his dominant years in the NBA. His ability to call out trends—good or bad—has made him one of the sport’s most authentic voices. But his latest commentary has struck a nerve, reigniting a debate over the evolution of basketball and its entertainment value.

In a recent episode of his popular podcast, The Big Podcast with Shaq, O’Neal doubled down on a criticism he first voiced weeks ago: the NBA’s games have become “very boring.” According to O’Neal, modern big men are trying to emulate guards instead of playing to their unique strengths blending into a monotonous style that saps excitement from the game.

“There’s no more dominant big man. It’s like stretch fives. I thought Joel Embiid was going to be that guy but I don’t think he likes the physicality for a whole season. You know Jokic is a guy that can go in and out, Wemanyama is a guy that can go in and out. Besides that, everybody is just doing the same thing… In my sport, everybody just does the same thing which makes it very boring and I think that’s why ratings are down,” said Shaq during his podcast.

This jab comes weeks after the Lakers legend sparked controversy by blaming three-point specialist Steph Curry for transforming the league’s playing style.

“It’s down because we’re looking at the same thing…Everybody is running the same plays…Steph Curry and those guys messed it up. I don’t mind Golden State back in the day shooting threes, but every team isn’t a 3-point shooter. So why everybody has the same strategy? I think it makes the game boring,” said O’Neal on his podcast.

Big Aristotle’s critique resonates with a troubling reality facing the NBA: a significant decline in viewership that validates his frustration. After a whole month into the season, the NBA’s ratings are down 28% on ESPN. Moreover, the ratings are 1.8 million viewers per game on TNT and 1.77 million viewers per game on ESPN, which is quite less than last year. However, the NBA commissioner dismissed Shaq’s concern and provided a new narrative.

“I don’t think it has anything to do with the three-point shot. The ratings dip can be attributed to the particulars of the calendar and the fierce competition for viewers’ attention,” said Adam Silver during an interview with Cheddar.

Still, O’Neal’s critique underscores a growing divide between purists who long for the physicality and diversity of past eras and modernists who embrace basketball’s evolution. Whether you side with Shaq or not, one thing is clear: his words spark important conversations about where the game has been and where it’s heading.

And in true Shaq fashion, he’s not afraid to shake things up. Moreover, along with the NBA, he also had an idea for the WNBA.

Shaquille O’Neal extends his advisory

For the NBA, Shaq had only one suggestion to make the league more interesting. He wanted the players to execute new skills, diversify into more offensive approaches, and mix up inside play with long-range shots, that would make the game more intriguing. Similar to this, the Lakers veteran had a suggestion for the WNBA.

During an episode of Angel Reese’s podcast Unapologetically Angel, Shaq proposed that lowering the rim in women’s basketball could empower more female athletes to dunk which in turn would make the game more interesting.

“The only thing that’s missing is the dunk… I’m not saying lower it to 9 feet or anything, just a little bit,” said Shaq during the podcast. But it was dismissed by the Chicago Sky’s forward and host of the show. “Just so we can dunk? No. I hate when men say that,” clapped back Reese.

Moreover, Big Diesel got himself into a controversial situation when he made uncomfortable comments about Reese’s outfit at a recent Wild ‘N Out show, suggesting that it could serve as a strategy to increase ratings. “Imagine you in the same little shorts you had on at the Wild N Out show dunking, you know how many T-shirts you’re going to sell?” said Shaq.

This comment was not well received by the fans and the media, and the NBA icon faced a lot of heat online. Nevertheless, he never shies away from expressing his true thoughts. But whether the WNBA or the NBA will listen to him, only time will tell.