At a time when a certain 19-year-old towering French baller is taking NBA season by storm, another big comparison has started in the basketball world. A Canadian basketball player with a staggering height of 7’4″ is being pitted against the NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal. And the comparison has already made many curious. 

Shaq was a 7’ 1” center who played for the Los Angeles Lakers for a considerable part of his career and won three NBA Championships with them. But are the parallels between the two completely justified?

Who’s Zach Edey?

The Purdue Boilermakers’ star Edey was just 6’ 11” in school and used to send countless tapes to play in USA. He would be left heartbroken for not receiving a revert. However, things changed when he was offered a scholarship to the prestigious IMG Academy. 

He was a three-star recruit and picked Purdue over Baylor and Santa Clara. The 2023 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award winner chose college over the NBA draft in May this year.

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The 2023 National College Player of the Year’s height allows him to excel in rebounding. Edey can reach over other players due to his height and stop them from scoring. He can also help his team create second chances by catching up on the ball before the opponents do. 

Another major advantage for Edey is his shot-blocking. The Toronto-born athlete can quickly steal shots from his opponents, thwarting their offensive strategies and neutralizing their tactics. His height allows him to dominate in the paint, using it to dunk or pass over defenders.

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However, Edey finds it difficult to move as quickly as some of the other players. His endurance is affected too because of the extra weight that can tire him more than his rivals. The 21-year-old is also at risk of injury as a consequence of his size which can be threatening if not treated on time. 

How was Shaq’s playing style?

On the other hand, Shaq’s playing style was just not limited to his height. He could basket splendid jump shots and also give no-look passes. The former Lakers star was so agile that he could make way for himself through the defenses. 

In addition, he was one of the best passers of his generation and had the timing to block shots (2700 shots- 7th overall). He also stands 12th overall in the number of rebounds (over 13,000). The New Jersey-born has pocketed more than 28,000 points, making him the 5th scorer in the NBA history. 

The three-time Finals MVP revolutionized basketball in the way coaches chalked defensive plans. The 2000 NBA MVP had his jersey numbers retired both by the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat. He paved the way for radical basketball play that we witness in the current era.

How do the two compare?

Comparing Edey and Shaq is a little difficult since both belong to different generations. Edey’s height may help him with rebounding and shot blocking, while Shaq was versatile and didn’t let his size hold him back. 

Shaq was quite a good passer and a solid defender. He would also outdo Edey in his scoring from inside the paints ability and drawing fouls from defenders.

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While Shaq already retired way back in 2011, Edey is still developing his skills and it remains to be seen if he will be drafted by an NBA team in the coming years.