Was Shaq ever the best player in the NBA? | First Take

On First Take, Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman and Kendrick Perkins discuss if Shaquille O'Neal was ever the best player in the NBA.
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[@richardmills6669]

Steven A be like: “Shaq was never the heaviest Center. Sure he may have weight the most, but he wasn’t the heaviest”

[@zechariahstreet8495]

That’s funny asf

[@michael-wj7sc]

😂😂😂😂

[@sgtslaughter573]

Yo you can tell they write what he says he will make it sound good its like they slapping him in back of the head get out there boy

[@Alim31507]

@@sgtslaughter573 honestly you not wrong bro

[@arkadiuszrogala1359]

Actually Oliver Miller was the heaviest center ever

[@Cochise954]

This is stupid; SAS is on a roll today. First Donovan Mitchell being Jazz best player ever and now Shaq not being the best in the NBA at a point in his career. At one point, there was literally nothing you could do with Shaq in his prime. Very few got the best of him.

[@atlien1988]

I don’t want any part of whatever he’s taking. He clearly needs sleep because ESPN is working him so hard he’s speaking gibberish.

[@tanujiyengar]

Yeah he smoked something good this morning lol

[@King-eg2zl]

@@tanujiyengar I need what he’s on because this is beyond weed

[@mrkniffz7109]

He’s actually right about Donovan Mitchell tho… this is a definitely a bit blasphemous

[@TheVijaiParadigm]

I think SAS means Mitchell is most skilled Jazz player. Maybe Stockton comes close but idk.

[@Eye_Know]

i’m 100% with Max on this one don’t even know how this is a discussion

[@RC-ld3cn]

I'm with Stephen A. Kobe was the copy of MJ.

[@caseyjones815]

WAIT FOR LUKA THE DON AFTER A COUPLE OF YRS

[@1228adams]

It was kobe

[@Magic1970something]

Max right Shaq dominance was way more heavier on a scale than what any skilled player brought to the table because he was truly unstoppable

[@arturo_cruz]

100 if kobe was in fact the best player at the time he would have won the MVP. stats and titles don't lie.

[@traedajoker]

Steven A losing his mind ever since Kwame Brown 😭😭😭

[@matthewjackson565]

To much mommas cooking

[@Swolteam]

@@matthewjackson565 your a white boy.

[@imanbutton7072]

Fax he just say anything now like booker da next kobe

[@1623ALBERTO]

He is saying Devin booker next Kobe Bryant & Donovan Mitchell greatest Utah jazz player ever LOL.

[@BlessedOne686]

@@Swolteam ??? I’m black but that was unnecessary

[@joda542]

Shaq: Stephen A, how many rings you got?

[@GreenCrackTV]

Lmaoooo

[@Jr-ei9mq]

LOLL

[@jsnarmy5508]

The same amount as Chuck

[@noelvazquez750]

@@jsnarmy5508 and Ernie 🤣

[@beerbatreps3861]

I literally read your comment in shaq's voice

[@deesee2051]

Stephen A acts like his word is just law or something 😂😂😂😂😂

[@Dontresssmith3757]

Facts smfh he is ridiculous

[@spproductionsnba]

Well that’s almost all basketball fans sadly

[@rickorean4030]

@@spproductionsnba Not all. but all the "analyst" are clown.

[@youngerudit2524]

Right😭 I noticed that a while ago

[@JCrossover123]

Kwame Brown said that a month ago😂 everything he’s said about Smith was right

[@PanteraEnjoyer]

Stephen A has been dragging his name through the mud ever since he called nash white privileged and told kyrie to retire

[@mrrickstur]

SAS must be unaware that Bill Russell received a coaching job when he was still a player 🤣

[@logicaldude3611]

@@mrrickstur And Magic Johnson was given the coaching job of the Lakers in 1994 with no experience. (spoiler alert, he lasted 16 games).

[@adrxme3483]

@Winston Smith Yep, exactly.

[@chadf1368]

@@mrrickstur outliers dont overtake the rule.

[@andreingramakadjscrewrip7372]

Shaq's MVP was literally ONE vote off from being unanimous lol

[@thebasketballhistorian3291]

And the one first place vote went to Iverson who finished 7th in MVP voting that year, haha.

[@DenniDownBad]

Shaq, LeBron, Jordan, Kareem all should've been unanimous MVP before Curry. Both Shaq and LeBron got screwed over cause a voter used the "Take X player off of their team and they don't make the playoffs" argument for MVP voting. That can be a factor but that has too many times ruined unanimous campaigns

[@LordofMonkes]

@@DenniDownBad LeBron should've also won DPOY the same year he shoulda won unanimous MVP which without a doubt would seal beat season ever for a single player because that same season he repeated and won finals mvp for a second time

[@mikes3517]

Shout out to Fred Hickman who voted for Allen Iverson denying Shaq a unanimous MVP would have been the first to do it

[@kobischpiek8520]

@@LordofMonkes no Marc gasol was clearly DPoy and the was robbed of the fist team all defense. Not the other way around

[@LakerFan]

This whole “dominant” vs “skilled” vs “best” topic has a lot of people lost.. 😂

[@valjohnson7112]

yeah they are just arguing about the definitions of those words basically.

[@MX-jo5dq]

Shaq was all those things at one point

[@Itallmakessense556]

Facts bro it’s simple he was the best in the NBA in 2000

[@bigbodyjig5563]

@@MX-jo5dq shaq was never that skilled. Wasn’t more skilled than timmy kg chris Webber he was just bigger

[@MX-jo5dq]

@@bigbodyjig5563 lmfao no you’re wrong

[@mjburst1]

When Jordan retired, Shaq was #1 for 5 years. They changed the rules for him. His dominance in the finals proves it.

[@mitchy3438]

You are 100% correct!!!

[@adriponte]

I agree...but what rules they changed for Shaq?

[@MoejiiOsmanTV]

@@adriponte in the paint rules

[@TheMaddBlackMann]

@@adriponte they allowed the hack a Shaq and illegal defense

[@AuburnFanSince2010]

Kobe was the best player in the NBA from 2000-2010

[@raywilliams2035]

People got short memories. Shaq was absolutely the most feared player for almost 5-7 year span

[@shaunroland8053]

I truly believe him and Jordan were the most feared in the history of the NBA. Nobody could stop them dudes. Hack-A-Shaq and Jordan rules didn't really work after they got into their primes.

[@sosa6times893]

That's it??????

[@andypandy4722]

@@sosa6times893 around 10-12

[@xReLentLess213]

Which means he was the most dominant not skilled.

[@jayjones9225]

Shaq was the Finals MVP 3 straight seasons. I hear what Stephen A is saying about Kobe as the closer in the 4th, but Shaq was the best player in the league and showed it in the finals

[@TheRatedRockstar]

Facts

[@304lilh]

How many did shaq win without Kobe 1. Kobe won 2 without shaq.

[@carnage5350]

@@304lilh and how many finals mvps did kobe win with shaq? 0. guess how many finals mvps shaq had with kobe? 3

[@304lilh]

@carnage5350 How many rings Kobe have 5. Shaq has 4.

[@MindoftheNorthStar]

When Shaq was in his prime, it felt so unfair. Pure dominance

[@Cochise954]

facts

[@MikeJay-on5tt]

Imagine Shaq kept his Orlando Magics body throughout his career tho,He would've been unstoppable in NBA history.

[@cl8355]

@@MikeJay-on5tt now thats a fact

[@jimmykingsman8812]

Soooo unfair and actually the root of my hate for the lakers till this day.

[@champarr9278]

Yao Ming enters the chat.

[@RyanLBrown9396]

League, Finals and All Star MVP all in a single season. Shaq is one of the few guys who can say that. Case closed

[@Dontresssmith3757]

Absolutely agree the disrespect

[@anthonyzarate9807]

All star MVP is a joke!

[@edwardtimothy3581]

He's the all star mvp too? Dang

[@marquis-_5501]

All star is a joke noob

[@RyanLBrown9396]

@@marquis-_5501 who you callin noob ?

[@jespov9548]

Stephen A never can admit when he’s wrong lmfaoo

[@nostalgicbliss5547]

Stephen A: Max, I'm wrong, and here's why...

[@nodoze123]

Facts!!!

[@Guitarisforgrins]

He's an idiot

[@markclarke1011]

@@Guitarisforgrins 🧢

[@Guitarisforgrins]

@@markclarke1011 Sorry, I don't speak in little emojis

[@seanbell69]

Shaq was the best player in the world from 2000-2003. Absolutely unstoppable.

[@nitro5432]

Unstoppable because he was a gorilla, pushed the defender, raised his hand and dunk?

[@seanbell69]

@@nitro5432 It seems pretty simple, why couldn't they stop him?

[@Rooski245]

Nah Duncan in 02/03

[@brandonhayes8364]

He was the best player from 98-99 season through the 02-03 season. But in 03-04 he averaged a humble 21ppg and 10rpg. Kobe, and Tim Duncan both had a better years going forward starting with the 03-04 season... Then LeBron, Bron was the best player in the NBA since the 04-05 season his 2nd year in the league.

[@nitro5432]

@@seanbell69 I just answered your question before you even made it. As I said he was a gorilla with more weight and force than talent. Although they really stopped him when they needed to, they just fauled him and made him miss free throws.

[@johnwebb2442]

Shaquille O'Neal was on the list of 50 Greatest NBA players back in 1996, let that sink in.

[@jarellbrown6974]

That's true and he was on the list because that was back when he was in his 4th season in the nba but he wasn't able to attend the ceremony because he had a ankle injury a couple of days prior to the event but shaq felt uncomfortable with the fact that he was listed as one of the. 50 greatest players because he felt like it was to soon to be on the throne with all the other nba greats which is understandable because in his mind it's like I'm still a baby and I have a long way to go and that's just goes to show you how great of a dominate player he was.

[@jerry85g7]

I remember. Good times

[@TheNrat]

Dude beat mj bulls in his prime

[@SiReTV8929]

Yeah, in his 4TH season... FOURTH SEASON AS A PROFESSIONAL NBA PLAYER!!!!! He was ALREADY 1 of the 50 greatest players in the NBA

[@SB-zm5fu]

@@TheNrat MJ just came back in the league tho

[@brooklynmitrica577]

I never thought I’d see the day where max and Perk agree lol

[@telles0824]

It’s like Perk said STAY OFF THE WEEEEEED lmao 🤣

[@21kinglebron]

@@telles0824 right!?!? 😂 lmao

[@Only2GendersCommonSense]

Kendrick "Shaqtin-a-fool LEGEND" Perkins

[@carlosdelgado4872]

😂😂

[@telles0824]

@Ghost-Legend* agree 💯

[@shuutsukiyama1553]

In my opinion, being the most dominant player made u the best. Skills are a way of dominate.

[@Spider-ManHQ]

It's just as simple as this: Shaq won 3 straight Finals MVPs and a MVP in between. That's it. That's the argument.

[@shuutsukiyama1553]

@@Spider-ManHQ yeah, but they can argue back saying that MVP is not based in facts, on stadistics. It's based on what people votes. Anyway, I think he was the best.

[@Spider-ManHQ]

@@shuutsukiyama1553 Yea but Shaq's MVP was one vote away from being unanimous. So when pretty much everyone thinks u deserve the award, it makes it that much more legit

[@Xstrangis]

“He wasn’t the best player he was the most dominant player” 😭😭😭 sound mad dumb

[@jakeharrison207]

“Unless you have amnesia” lmao Max sounds genuinely confused

[@dubson965]

Max is 100 percent right on this one. Shaq is one of da GOAT's

[@KPRackz]

So is kobe lol

[@BertMustin_]

He's not top 5

[@yvans.]

@@KPRackz only 3 real GOATS

[@theogriffiths7704]

@@KPRackz no one said Kobe wasn’t just that his prime came later than Shaq’s meaning that when Shaq was in his prime Kobe wasn’t so he was the best player in the league

[@immortal8447]

@@BertMustin_ at his peak I think he is

[@logicaldude3611]

This is like someone basically changing the definition of a word and adding all kinds of qualifiers just so he doesn't have to say Shaq was the best player in the league.

[@bboyggez]

I usually roll my eyes when Perkins starts talking, but he right on this one

[@champtouch3298]

🤣🤣

[@thegreat195]

I am the biggest kobe fan in the world. I’m literally wearing a kobe shirt as typing this comment lol but to say shaq wasn’t the best player on earth during the 3 championships is absolutely insane

[@georgekontogouris6618]

Exactly

[@zuzd4502]

Shut up idiot no one cares

[@mikeandmars2345]

Facts bro

[@razkable]

kobe was so good by 2001 but so was shaq...peopel forget lol...they think 2005-2009 kobe was 2001-2002 kobe..he wasn't that good...people need to calm down...

[@thegreat195]

@@razkable to me kobe was the best or most skilled player in the nba the year they acquired Malone and Payton. He learned so much defensively from the glove that after that there wasn’t anything he couldn’t do. but during the 99-02 run shaq was too dominant.

[@coryagain]

Stephen A's take was embarrassing to us that remember how good Shaq was 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@FanNews29]

He just can’t be wrong after he said something stupid. He know Shaq was the best player during a period.

[@krisk4835]

@@FanNews29 He was never the best… they has jordan while he was playing. Kobe,Lebron

[@jordinlimnidis9539]

@@krisk4835 he was always better then kobe bruh it was never a dispute

[@billsmith7642]

One other thing people dont bring up....was not just his stats, but HOW he dominated....he put up those numbers being double, even triple teamed at times....and was a great passer as a big man, leaving guys like Kobe, Derek Fisher, Rick Fox and co. wide open by drawing everyone into the paint

[@godsson7957]

@@billsmith7642 MAJOR MAJOR FACTS.💯%.

[@tspisme6612]

Glad big diesel getting his flowers while hes here. " GOOGLE ME CHUCK!!"

[@zachwagner007]

“Snatch the screws out the rim.” 😆 I love perk

[@jalentibbs458]

“He wasn’t the best he just dominated the league better then anyone else” 😂😂😂

[@chalnervassor9430]

Hes foolish

[@jnix_visuals]

😂😂😂

[@YisraelPrince]

@Ghost-Legend* they don’t understand

[@vic0343]

@Ghost-Legend* it doesn’t matter if your not skilled if your the most dominant you’ll be the best at some point of your career and Shaw was

[@83jdc1]

@Ghost-Legend* that's not the argument

[@joshblank1]

Stephan A to Perk: “you weren’t there in 2001/2002” Perk: “you’re right, I was there in 2003” Everyone: Stephen A you were never on the court

[@awizonme5248]

Stephen A said "No dispute there". He was agreeing with Perk

[@yourstruly392]

@@awizonme5248 SASnitch is a clown and has 0 nba credibility

[@kylediverde9858]

@@yourstruly392 lmaooo then who are you?

[@nekaneka-lo2js]

@@kylediverde9858 hes prolly someone riding the "Kwame brown"sheep train

[@yourstruly392]

@@nekaneka-lo2js 👈Go-Along-Get-Along Gang AFFILIATE🤣🤣 Mommas Cooking💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾u jealous😭😭 u have no pic, ur a nobody LMFAO

[@peskypesky]

As a Spurs fan, who HATED Shaq, Kobe and the Lakers....I will attest to Shaq being the best player in the year for several years. He was a BEAST. Undisputable.

[@chrisbigbendgarage634]

I've seen former NBA players talk about how they adjusted their entire lineup just for shaq in his prime they knew they need at least 3 if not 4 people to foul him to slow him down he was that unstoppable no team was doing that with any other player on the floor he was the best 2000 to 2003 hands down

[@Thousandeyes85]

Shaq was easily the best player in the NBA, multiple years

[@cjdavis2623]

Most people don’t realize that this man averaged nearly 30 without taking a 3 point shot

[@inkukhanal9965]

And at 52% ft shooting imagine if he was at 70% lol

[@brotherel8225]

Let’s go

[@bencoleman9662]

Nah I actually thought he was shooting hella threes

[@cjdavis2623]

@@bencoleman9662 he avg 0.1 three point attempts in only 2 seasons of his career lol and I’m almost certain those attempts were from half and full court buzzer beaters

[@Eye_Know]

@@cjdavis2623 sarcasm, i think…

[@Heart_ken01]

From 2000-2002 he was undeniably the best player those years. In 1999, Malone won the MVP but you could argue that Shaq was the better player. In 2004, Kobe was the better player in the regular season but in the playoffs and especially the finals Shaq was better (so that year is a toss up).

[@bolo5190]

A lot of ppl don't realize this but the three championships in a row that Shaq and Kobe won, the finals was in the west when they faced the spurs and that one year when the Lakers faced the Sacramento Kings, if the Lakers didn't get past the Spurs or the Kings in western conference playoffs then those teams would have more likely win the championship against whoever came out the east and I heard Kobe was the best player in those series vs the spurs not shaq but I'm not sure who it was vs the Sacramento. Kings. But the bottom line is that this shouldn't even be a question..of course he was if anyone has fallowed his career..

[@MP-pg4cm]

Shaq was the best player in the game from 99 to 03. 3 finals, 3 fmvps, and 1 MVP, 1 scoring titles

[@calebthedubsfan7397]

Definitely from 99 to 02, but Duncan was certainly the best player in 03

[@MP-pg4cm]

@@calebthedubsfan7397 in 03-04 he almost 4-peated. I don’t want to hear Tim Duncan name during those years I said

[@donaldrailedurmom6264]

@@calebthedubsfan7397 Duncan was more so late 2000’s early 2010’s. He was a great player then but shaq was just unstoppable.

[@andrewlarson7]

From 2000 to 2002 imo. Duncan was easily the best player in 03 and proved it in the playoffs with some ridiculous performances. 99 is a toss up because there weren’t many true dominant players that year. Shaq has an argument but he didn’t make 1st team all-nba. I’d go with Duncan, Malone, or Mourning

[@crasherbasher8067]

Lies 2003 was: Kobe- regular season Duncan- playoffs

[@mi-khaelquires6243]

Prime Shaq was literally a monster in human form.

[@TheJoshua9965]

Unstoppable. Nothing you could do

[@whitemagicsponge7190]

well, not literally

[@alankoslowski9473]

Like most monsters he dominated with physicality; not skill.

[@nostalgicbliss5547]

@@alankoslowski9473 He was a skilled lowpost player. Had great footwork, touch on his hook shot, had underrated handles and passing ability too. He was so mobile and nimble for such a behemoth. Shaq was a freak of nature, there is a higher chance we see the next MJ, Lebron and Curry before we see anyone like Shaq again.

[@alankoslowski9473]

@@nostalgicbliss5547 Once is awhile he made a decent hook and had decent footwork, but Duncan did it more consistent and for a much longer time period. Yes, Shaq mos def was a natural athletic freak, but that's not the same as being highly skilled. The former is largely due to luck (genetics) while the former is a combo of both luck and hard work (Duncan). To me, that's why Duncan was better.

[@dmbondboys]

😂 is this a joke, Shaq was the best period when he was shaq

[@thecreeper-em5up]

He was the best but Stephen is saying he didn't have the same drive kobe mj lebron wilt or Tim Duncan had, they worked constantly on their game practices all the time, ate right, shaq back then was living like a celebrity not a top 5 player of all time is what Stephen is saying I think

[@thecreeper-em5up]

@Aaron9 and tim had fundamentals and played vs shaq a few times their score was pretty close, 33 shaq-29 tim, with both 15 in playoffs, but if the fundamentals can keep up so can the sky hook thats perfected, and kobe can beat shaq, if u think mj is better than shaq throw kobe in there

[@BuffKangaroo1]

Shaq was just bigger than everyone else

[@justsayin669]

@@thecreeper-em5up Shaq proved to be better than Kobe though during their 3peat. From 1993-94 through 2002-03 Shaq was better than Kobe ever was.

[@jonathanaguilar5026]

Thank you Max for setting SAS straight! “Stay OFF the WEEEEEEEEEDDDDUH!”

[@kRzlamchop]

His dominance made him the BEST player in the nba for a few years.

[@skinfanjay]

Well. Stated

[@seanhurley4003]

Totally! What the heck is the definition of Dominant and Best. For me if you are the most DOMINANT then You Are The BEST.

[@beattheodds6219]

Idk about a few. But yeah after MJ retired it was Shaqs league. But once Kobe hit his prime in 2001, Shaq was literally calling Kobe the best player in the world

[@kobischpiek8520]

Well you could argue TD won 1999 and in 2000 he had an leg injury. But in 2003 he beat kobe and shaq without any all star teammates. And in 2002 in the WC Duncan outplayed shaq by a wide margin. So you could make an argument for shaq being the best player 2000 and 2001. From 2002-2005 Duncan and the Kobe

[@mrmacross]

@@kobischpiek8520 I'm a big TD fan, but counting the number of all-star teammates is not the right metric. This isn't 2-on-2 basketball. You have rosters that go 12 deep in the playoffs, and you have to take into account coaching, chemistry, etc. Sure, the Lakers had the two best guys on the court, but those two guys don't play 48 minutes per game, and there are three other guys on the court who can elevate or sink you. And let's not forget how mediocre the 2003 Lakers were on defense, whereas the Spurs were elite.

[@19you1]

Shaq: First of all S.A.S you know nothing about going the finals or three peats GOOGLE ME STEPHEN GOOGLE ME

[@chrisballard5743]

😆😆

[@beards-N-boonies]

SAS: ... but Shaq.... Shaq: GOOGLE MEEEEE!!!!!!

[@sirusblack2789]

Who else wants nets to win but know there gonna lose

[@genesis8973]

@@sirusblack2789 cap

[@reggienovenario2864]

Shaq was literally an unstoppable force. 5 ft from the basket NOBODY could stop him... NOBODY! I always felt sorry for the guys defending him.

[@SkywalkerG1o]

I remember when i was a kid ,how could man that size have that kind of agility. It's still mindblowing

[@tollywilliams4375]

Shaq in his prime was like the Lakers had 6 players on the floor, complete Domination.. They didn't even know how to ref once he got it in the paint.. He was mugged everytime but most times no fouled called!!

[@lonzoball8061]

I can’t wait to hear Shaq’s response to Stephen A’s statement about him tonight on inside the nba

[@ballerboy1323]

Hey LeBron

[@spongebobroundpants2966]

This dude gets so many likes wherever he goes 😂😂

[@mca217]

Why are you changing your jersey number? 🤔

[@woah.one89]

how many rings you got stephen a?

[@kevin5233]

@@woah.one89 Because he is washed

[@clubsobri]

I agree that from 2000 through 2003, Shaq was the best player in the NBA. Duncan and Kobe were more skilled, and historically should probably ranck higher, but in those three years he was the best player in the game. And in those years AI, KD, Vince Carter, and a host of other guys, were pretty darn good.

[@jayhoward7448]

I feel like anyone that has a "logo" made for them....you are one of the greatest.✌

[@tjleaf3510]

Stephen A woke up today and said “How can I throw away the little remaining credibility I have and look like a complete joke to the basketball community? 🤔🤔”

[@travissmith6380]

mission accomplished

[@ScottParisi]

SAS went from joke to woke to woke joke. The SAS podcast is his next stop.

[@pjpomare3598]

@@ScottParisi 🤣🤣 you right

[@antoinewright1425]

y'all got more credibility then him ? lmao stfu

[@lebronfanboyhater6277]

🤣🤣 facts

[@phothewin6019]

Shaq arguably had the greatest peak of all time. Of course he was the best at one point.

[@brandon_e23]

I still say to this day 99-00 Shaq is the best player I’ve ever seen & the best player that ever was. He just never kept himself in that good of condition & never had the same level of drive any other year of his career. Other guys like MJ did & that’s why they’re better all-time players. His legendary 2000 season is why I became a Laker fan when I was 6 years old that year. He was a demigod

[@omarshahid50]

I still think the GREATEST peak of all time is Jordan, I mean I don’t really have to explain myself. However I’ve had conversations with people and I will swear to you that if Shaq worked harder and actually cared he would be the goat no questions asked.

[@phothewin6019]

@@brandon_e23 I was a kid living in LA at that time, and man, he wasn't just a demigod on the court, dude was an absolute mega star. Seeing his faces on so many billboards, being the talk of the town 24/7, conquering that LA spotlight. Dude was the very definition of THE big man on campus.

[@phothewin6019]

@@omarshahid50 It's crazy how even with his poor work ethic (relative to a Jordan or a Kobe) he was known as arguably the most dominant force ever in the NBA. If he had their work ethic, I have 0 doubts that he'd be the goat.

[@smokescreenOG]

funny, but Shaq even at his peak only played at 80% effort and still dominated. He was kind of lazy during games.

[@Ihearttaylorswif]

I agree with Max. Shaq was a monster. He was unstoppable at one point. He was dunking on everyone.

[@Drawzino78741]

Lets get real.....Shaq is hands down my favorite player of all time (Bron 2nd) so I'ma ride with him all day and I will say if he would've stayed healthy and in shape even with the years in Miami I guarantee you we would be talking about a different convo about who's the goat....Shaq was just that dude period 💯💪🏾

[@lusterthomas5646]

Someone with some basketball knowledge. Thank you

[@tdot2853]

SAS knew he messed up lmao. He knows Shaq was the best at one point 😂😂😂

[@lonzoball8061]

Another example of why Stephen A doesn’t know the game of basketball and doesn’t care about researching about the history of the game to realize the facts of Shaq being a dominant force back then

[@ballerboy1323]

Hey LeBron

[@Youngcarter354]

Bron Bron

[@mohamedsan3112]

IKR He is so dumb that it makes me laugh

[@KawhiLowry]

In the '00 season who tf could you put above Shaq! Of course he was the best in the league which answers ur question of was Shaq ever the best in the league

[@Chigz10]

He's wrong but he was literally covering the NBA then lol it's history to you but he was there

[@awesomeelk2920]

Shaq is the most underrated player now.. If I could draft any player ever to start a team, I'd choose him.

[@whomadethelist7222]

Lol

[@ice_g0466]

Steven tearing down a 3x finals mvp and saying “he worked when he felt like it..” it’s almost as if Steven a… ahh nevermind

[@alexcunningham9012]

It's a dumb point to make anyway. Shaq did get fat and lazy after the 3peat, to the point the bones in his feet started crumbling under the weight. It has no relevance on whether or not he was at any point the best player in the NBA. This whole thing is just stupid anyway because anyone who even casually watched basketball could tell that prime Shaq was from another planet. There was never anything before and hasn't been anything after that could match. It's just SAS saying more random controversial bs for views.

[@larrylindgren9484]

If you don't believe it you never watched Shaq play. He easily gave up career everything for 50% of the seasons he played. He dogged it. But that Shaq. He got by on what he had. Never working to get better. It's why his career when it went south fell of a cliff. Everything he couldn't do was magnified. Yes Shaq could score in a phone booth. Was he the best at it? No Wilt was and it wasn't even close. But Shaq was good in his phone booth. As long as you didn't ask him to play defense, rebound or for much of his career actually run the court.

[@Jdot2tact]

No he's right on that part. Shaq had trash work ethic. He just was blessed to be 7'1 325lbs,quick asf and strong asf. His genes are why hes successful. If he worked as hard as Kobe he'd be the undisputed GOAT and miles ahead of MJ.

[@mohamedbarrie2796]

SAS really doesn’t know what he’s talkin bout 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@bornasiroki3976]

You know its bad when even Perk agrees with Max

[@LovedByYou]

And Maks does???? nope

[@khanbw]

@@LovedByYou Are you saying Max is wrong?

[@jnix_visuals]

This man also said that Donovan is the greatest Jazz player of all time 😭😭😭

[@natelewis3166]

@@LovedByYou I think Max is paid to say stupid stuff sometimes. Max is usually on point tho.

[@anthonyramos7501]

Kwame was right when he said all sas knows is talking loudly

[@jordanarthur34]

Probably the first time I've ever really liked what Kendrick Perkins had to say in a long time lol. Thank u Max and Perkins! During that era the NBA was Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson & Kobe

[@matthewwilson5425]

man i love kendrick perkins now, he be having me rolling much props to him

[@cousinilly215]

Shaq definitely in his prime was literally unfair

[@sports3117]

I won’t be surprised if Shaq goes after Stephen A. for this quote on quote, Blasphemy 😂😂😂🤣🤦🏿‍♂️

[@hbb7528]

His gonna do him like Charles Barkley do skip 😂

[@jamesmckenzie9529]

Only reason Shaq might leave this alone is out of deference to Kobe

[@LovedByYou]

for saying Kobe was the overall bettwer player?? i think Shaq would agree....

[@nirdeep07]

@@LovedByYou kobe was the better player after Shaq became washed up. There was no other player even comparable to Shaq in his prime during that time in league

[@thesource4189]

You boys & girls just don't know how aweful Shaq was, you don't believe me? Just foul him! 😯😦🤓

[@KingofAwesome09]

The crazy thing to think about is Shaq often said he was never at full peak in his career, and yet was still putting up 30-20. 😅

[@gcgarcia21]

“Don’t fake the funk on a nasty dunk.” -Shaq

[@highbasketballknowledge]

THIS MAN WON 3 FINALS MVPS WHILE 3 PEATING. THE LEVEL OF BLASPHEMY

[@Mercurial.]

Bec he had Bean who according to Diesel himself said during them 🏆🏆🏆 at the time: We WINNING bec I play with THE BEST PLAYER ON THE PLANET!

[@antoinefulgencediouf9735]

@@Mercurial. he did have Kobe. But shaq was the main driving force.

[@jki808]

@@Mercurial. shaq saying Kobe was better literally means absolutely nothing when compared to basic facts and stats. “Best player on the planet” ok then why didn’t he get fmvp once? Dude was clearly just saying that to be nice, in which he did the right and humble thing.

[@Mercurial.]

@@immortal8447 So did is EXACTLY what a CASUAL does without telling ANY CONTEXT and just takes "stats" as a pure facts. Game 1 Had a poor 1st game in his first final game ever as a 21 year old, true. Finished with 14p Game 2 Got injured by J.Rose after playing 9 min! Game 3 Injured didn't play! Game 4 28p with a sore foot as he SAVED The Lakers when Diesel YET again FOULS OUT of games where Bean CLUTCHED (several times) his way into a famous Laker win in overtime! Game 5 Poor game with 8p as Indiana dominated the Lakers. Game 6 Finished with 26p and 10 rebounds And all this while playing The Pacers back court vs Reggie, Mark, Jalen and Mullin as well. And Diesel played vs Rik Smiths and Dale.... Stop it man!

[@Mercurial.]

@@jki808 Dude! Go check who Diesels opponents in the finals was "hence" WHY the triangle was played down low on the post so much bec they had a freaking Un normal human being in Diesel as he played Rik Smith's, 35 OLD Mutombo on his last legs and a guy named Todd in them finals as Bean played vs Indiana Back Court (who 2 years earlier played vs a LEGENDARY Bulls team in the finals) Bean had to guard the MVP A.I and vs J.Kidd in 02 as he avg 26.8 in the finals vs Nets. If a player in Diesel on NATIONAL TV says: He's playing fabulous basketball and that WHY we WINNING bec I play with THE BEST PLAYER ON THE PLANET! So do I believe him saying that 20 years ago and he still saying that today or U a random dude on the Internet 🤨 CONTEXT!!!!!

[@spongebobroundpants2966]

Stephen A has had so many bad takes today😂 he on a cold streak🥶

[@samuraisaiyan4pe]

Bro he even went on espn fc the soccer version and was just talking about star power dodnt know what to say 😂

[@aurus4432]

Gatorade symbol is hovering rn

[@kevindgoat8467]

Yo he a hater

[@MichaelBrewington]

Mommas cooking got him tripping

[@nickvan9exel954]

There will never be another big man like Shaq in the league again💯...

[@Concept2035]

yo Shaq would make entire teams cry. Like "should we just shut down the whole franchise and call it quits"?

[@jamescole9522]

Shaq averaged 35 and 15 in the finals over 3 years to say he wasn’t the best is idiotic

[@makhiaboone6828]

No you have to be an idiot to believe that makes him the best lol

[@jamescole9522]

@@makhiaboone6828 who was averaging better than 35 and 15 please let me know?

[@bigpapi5005]

@@makhiaboone6828 bro what name 5 players in those 3 years that did better

[@kingme863]

I mean if Todd McCullum, Mutumbo & Rik Smith guarding you , you better win finals mvp

[@kingme863]

@joceja23 what that gotta do with him guarding Shaq? Did he win dpoy for stopping Shaq 82 games straight that season. He was physically unable to stop Shaq in the finals. Yeah that same dpoy that didn’t look like it

[@thetruth-gy2lc]

Is this a joke? 2000 Shaq MVP season was one of the best seasons in NBA history! They literally changed the rules & allowed zone defenses so teams could try to stop him.

[@ernestboykin3rd706]

Yup

[@thefirstgp6475]

LMAOO in the thumbnail Stephen A looks like he saying his classic “ STOP IT “ which matches perfectly wit the title 😭😂

[@jimmyjames24]

Shaq was the only player that if he got to his "spot" (the entire paint. He was not just a dunker, his footwork and baby hook was amazing) you just hoped he miss. I remember watching teams TRIPLE teaming him.

[@jogendron6320]

Hakeem was better in the paint, specially foot work. And he didn’t have to change teams to win twice as n a row.

[@legendlem5337]

We got Stephen Bayless here today saying some crazy things: “Donovan Mitchell is the best jazz player all time already”…. “:Shaq was never the best player in the league” 😟

[@starastro4591]

I guess he totally forgot about Karl Malone and John Stockton. Neither of which Mitchell has past yet. He might one day but not yet

[@jackjackson811]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾😂😂😂

[@markjones6201]

@@starastro4591 Karl Malone was 19 when he impregnated a 12 year old girl. He never paid a dime of the $125 a week he agreed to pay in child support even though he has made millions.

[@warrenmiller2044]

@@markjones6201 yikes but thats not what we r talking about

[@rob19ny]

@@markjones6201 Irrelevant. Learn to stay on topic.

[@tmot6714]

Shaq literally won Mvp and Finals MVP in 2000!!

[@ChiTownWarrior1]

@Versatile Wolf Meaning he was the best player.

[@Mercurial.]

Playing vs Rik Smith's 🤨

[@jason615lakers]

@@Mercurial. since he was playing rik smiths he was supposed to lose on purpose

[@Mercurial.]

@@jason615lakers Who said anything about lose here then u now?! 🤨 If u gonna say some just tell the TRUTH of CONTEXT if not it has no VALUE to the discussion. That's all.

[@kb4231]

@@Mercurial. what about the whole season?

[@TheNekgned]

I am so glad to hear the name of Tracy Mcgrady

[@rascol109]

shaq definitely was the nba's best player's at one point

[@newrecruit100]

Stephen A knows he’s wrong, just doesn’t wanna admit it to go along with the concept of the show

[@antonioemile1659]

Stephen A acts like you can't be the most dominant and the best at the same time. You can.

[@anthonyzarate9807]

You can, but Shaq was ONLY the most dominant. He was not very skilled. He was more skilled then some of the big stiffs, but Nowhere near players like Kareem, and Duncan!

[@terrenceraymond4876]

Exactly! He was the best during the championship years period!

[@jgmafia7318]

@@anthonyzarate9807 to move like that at that size takes skill there was a lot of tall big guys in the nba that could dream of the moves shaq did

[@retrosoul8770]

@@jgmafia7318 thank you, exactly. If it was so easy to do what Shaq did then plenty of other centers in the league even today would average his same exact numbers, but very few have. I mean how do you average 38, 16 and 3 blks in the finals without a substantial skill level? Makes no sense.

[@chalnervassor9430]

@@retrosoul8770 People do not realize post spins, dropsteps, and other post moves take skill. Just because you are not dribbling between your legs every possession does not mean you dont have skill

[@dickdiaz11]

“Google me, Stephen A!” Is what I picture shaq saying.

[@edwardmcknight1455]

🤣🤣

[@xxking8202]

3:00 of course when you are being guarded by a whole team that’s when the co-star comes to play

[@elanzankman4399]

Are we talking about the guy who won Finals MVP three times in a row?

[@calebbraswell9109]

SAS is acting like a variety of skills is the most important factor even though he knows that isn’t true. Kyrie is more skilled than Shaq that doesn’t mean he’s better. Even a guy like Zach Lavine is more skilled than Shaq. So what? Physical dominance is part of being great.

[@uhuhhuhhh]

facts

[@kyoriszu1550]

kyrie > shaq

[@somregularguy]

@@kyoriszu1550 shaq 3 peated while winning FMVP every single time, should’ve won Unanimous MVP, kyrie hasn’t sniffed anything I just mentioned 😂

[@mantistoboggan537]

Totally agree. I think Joe Johnson is a good example here. Obviously a ridiculously skilled player, but that didn’t ever translate to anything more than lukewarm success, and he was never really at the top level of the player hierarchy.

[@kamotetops1572]

"even though he knows that isn’t true" - I bet he didn't know that! As Chuck said about these media CLOWNS talking DOWN about someone especially if they haven't been IN the game they are talking about; it is just their OPINION.

[@francisrivers1111]

If shaq was laser focused on just basketball and his health, he’s for sure in the GOAT conversation.

[@jeremykass87]

One of the rare occasions where Max got Stephen on a basketball topic. Easy way to think of it is you have "athletically/physical gifted" and "hyper-skilled" as separate categories. There is a base-line in either category but if you dial up one end to an extreme- it can lead to best. Shaq best example for pure physical dominance while Steph kills em with skill. Shaq was skilled and Steph is an athlete but those aren't their strengths

[@TONEakaSHOW]

Yea there was a span of like 5 years of which Shaq would of took any team to the playoffs and 1/3 of the league to the finals.

[@gameplayer1980]

Thin line between "best player" and "most dominant". All the same to me. If no one can stop you, then you are the best.

[@devontewest3265]

So he the best player ever than

[@vivalageegee]

Exactly! SAS is crazy.

[@lloydiieee2624]

@@devontewest3265 lmao true. by that logic, he's the GOAT.

[@thedon5367]

@@lloydiieee2624 there’s a lot of goats in the Nba it’s really no right answer

[@zeaferjones1404]

Max is right if you list the players that were the best in 2000, 2001 and 2002. It would be 1. Shaq and 2. Allen Iverson after that its a debate.

[@tommingzuo]

Agreed with Max. Shaq was the BEST player in the NBA from 2000 to 2003

[@Tedward009]

I remember the debate my friends and I had at the time was could the Chicago Bulls get to the Finals if they just added Shaq. Talking about the 1999-00 Bulls.

[@tornatic1983]

After Jordan retired in '98 id say Shaq was best player in NBA for about 3 or 4 years. Especially 2000-2002

[@pryfy7746]

I thought Jordan retired in 2001 with the Washington wizards

[@mikeandmars2345]

Factsssss

[@lexkanyima2195]

At his peak i doubt that

[@ek274]

@@pryfy7746 2nd retirement in '98 with the bulls, 3rd retirement in '03 with the wiz

[@sheltondmello8031]

@@pryfy7746 everyone wants that wiped from their memory lol

[@a1aesthetics]

stephen A really elevated to lord skip bayliss jr

[@jazzymitch5184]

Leave Shaq alone he not bothering anybody. It doesn't matter we've never seen and will never a freak of nature beast monster of his magnetude ever again respect it!!

[@clawmeak]

One of the very rare times Max wins over Stephen A. with a laudable argument 😂😂

[@SaltyD7]

Shaq was the best player in the NBA in certain years 2000-2002 he was unmatched at his position and unstoppable. True.

[@AqwDragulum]

Shaq in his prime is an equivalent of two Joel Embiids today

[@Chosen1Crown]

Shaq in his prime was a force unlike anything witness by man .. completely dominant 💯

[@LadellTurner]

Shaq was most definitely a beast and one of the best players in the early 2000s. Three times finals Mvp, league mvp.

[@lemarmoda1816]

Mannn I’m just old enough to remember when Shaq was with the Magic & he use to run down the court like a gazelle 🔥🔥

[@RX-eq7ye]

lmao your comparison killed me

[@timothywyatt6824]

Yes sir, I remember them days. Shaq was dangerous!

[@leonarddoeman735]

And lets not forget he was 3 percent body fat at that time.

[@Jdot2tact]

@@leonarddoeman735 no he wasnt he was like 25& body fat. 3% body fat is near death and the only ppl who vome even close to that are Olympia Bodybuilders. Athletes throw out absurd numbers to make them seem more amazing. Arnold Swarzneggar was near even under 7% body fat and hes known as the greatest Bodybuilder ever. The most ripped ppl in the league are between 8- 12% bodyfat. Under 8% 24/7 is where you're doing more bad then good. Fat is good. Too much and too little is bad

[@leonarddoeman735]

@@Jdot2tact not true. Im 4 percent body fat. I'm slim with definition. It definitely is possible. Shaq was all muscle in his days with Orlando.

[@cohnjena6816]

ESPN: Well LeBron's out, gotta find a way to talk about the Lakers

[@345Vonnoo]

This needs more likes lol

[@toreytownsend4705]

@@345Vonnoo You are right about that!!!

[@QuavoGotFame]

Bro you serious lol

[@BLAZE-gg9zf]

Wow shaq definitely was the best in late 90s and early 2000s

[@newjerseyshotta2587]

No one the best every body got they own invidual greatness that you can’t compare to to another