"When somebody wins four championships, they can replace me, until then it's a Shaqtatorship" - Shaq shares why he has a problem with all the big men in today's NBA except Nikola Jokic originally appeared on Basketball Network .
Ever since Shaquille O'Neal hung up his sneakers and stepped into the analyst role, he has made it clear that he has no interest in sugarcoating his takes. Especially when the subject matter involves big men. From the jump, he's been outspoken about how the role of centers has evolved, some might even argue that it has softened, over the years.
He's never been shy about voicing frustration with how today's bigs approach the game, and while his unapologetic delivery has ruffled more than a few feathers along the way, O'Neal sees it as his duty.
In his eyes, he is the undisputed president of what he calls the "big man alliance," and if that's the case, then public accountability is simply part of the job description.
Shaq believes that in an era where offensive spacing and perimeter play dominate the league, true interior dominance is becoming a lost art. And as someone who built up an impressive legacy mostly due to his otherworldly strength and physicality, this change in for the worse.
"It's soft. And, a lot of people think I have a problem with Rudy Gobert, I do not. My problem is, from player to consumer, when the consumer causes you to make big money, you have to play big. If you are making 250 (million dollars), just play like you are making 250. That's all I ask," O'Neal said bluntly in a recent interview.
One name that has frequently been tied to O'Neal's criticism is the Minnesota Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert . The four-time Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Star has built a reputation as one of the league's premier rim protectors, but despite all the accolades, The Diesel, drawing from his personal experience, expects much more from a player earning north of $200 million.
To be clear, this is not a personal feud. Shaq has repeatedly said he loves seeing players get paid, regardless of who they are or which jersey they wear every night. His issue is not with the paycheck; it is with the way players (especially centers) are not playing hard enough.
That doesn't necessarily mean dropping 30 every night, but it does mean imposing your will and leaving your stamp on both ends of the floor, just like he did during his heyday.
"I am the leader, I am the God, I am the ruler of the big man alliance. When somebody wins four championships, they can replace me, until then it's a Shaqtatorship," the legendary big man added. "They don't have me in the GOAT conversation, but when it comes down to the most dominant players ever, I'm in the conversation and I am deep in the conversation. Me and one other guy."
The only current player who seems to have Shaq's full approval is Nikola Jokic. And that's no coincidence. Jokic is the one big man who blends the old-school power game with a modern offensive arsenal. He can shoot, he can pass, he can score in the post and he can bulldoze through defenders when necessary. That rare combination of finesse and brute strength is what earns Shaq's respect.
And who could blame him? The Serbian center has been the best player in the league for the last half-decade while playing in a way and putting numbers we have never quite seen before.
O'Neal has never hesitated to speak his mind, even if that means going against the current sometimes. But at the core of his commentary is a simple message: dominance still matters and, like the all-seeing eye, the Big Aristotle is still watching you.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
