Story by
"All of them. They think they're Kobe" - Shaquille O'Neal feels that NBA players today are delusional
- Story by
- "All of them. They think they're Kobe" - Shaquille O'Neal feels that NBA players today are delusional
Shaquille O'Neal can be a little too critical of the NBA's modern era at times, something we've seen time and again through the years. Not to mention when it comes to assessing the big men, as evident in the cases of Dwight Howard , JaVale McGee and Rudy Gobert , the Diesel is extra harsh.
Some of his most frequent criticisms include the lack of physicality in today's game and the bigs' preference to shoot from outside rather than bully their way into the paint. Another thing that often has Shaquille livid is people drawing parallels between current talent and past veterans — especially all-time greats such as the late Kobe Bryant , whom he considered his younger brother.
Advertisement
Former teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers , Shaq and Kobe formed one of the greatest NBA duos of all time, best known for their iconic three-peat from 2000 to 2002.
Recently, seen as a guest on the "Nitty Gritty with Nat" podcast, O'Neal indulged in an interesting Q&A session, picking random paper chits with questions, one of which asked him to reveal the most "delulu" player. Funnily enough, Shaq had never heard about the Gen Z term. Upon learning that it was the short form for the term delusional, the veteran center responded as follows.
Advertisement
"Oh, all of them. Yeah, all of them think they're Kobe," stated the Diesel, who has always been protective of the Black Mamba's legacy.
No comparisons to KB
Entering his first free agency in 1996, Shaq had no plans to extend his tenure with the Orlando Magic . Eventually, signing with the Lakers at a time when they had just drafted Kobe, as well. O'Neal would indeed play a pivotal role in Bryant's early developmental years in the league.
Advertisement
As a result, the big man knew how special a talent the 6'6" shooting guard was from the get-go, which is also one of the primary reasons why Shaquille doesn't like comparing anybody to Kobe .
"Similar to Kobe? Not one even close. I don't think they want to be compared to Kobe; I think they are trying to make their own mark.You always ask people, 'Who you compare to Michael (Jordan)?' I don't compare anybody to Mike, but if I had to answer the question, Kobe is the closest thing to Mike," stated O'Neal.
The relationship between O'Neal and Bryant could be best described as a rollercoaster ride, much of which stemmed from their strong personalities and, to some extent, their stubbornness. While debates around how many more rings they could have won had they stuck together are a what-if, they indeed had a memorable run.
Advertisement
Looking back at the Shaq-Kobe tandem
Teammates for eight years on the Lakers, the two superstars had their fair share of ups and downs, from their iconic three-peat to the growing rift between them that reached a point from which there was no coming back.
Thus, when O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004, many fingers were pointed at Bryant as the one who orchestrated it. Adding to it were the animosity and subtle public digs between them. However, over the years, the two rekindled their relationship, with Shaquille often addressing Kobe as his younger brother.
Advertisement
There is no denying that the two were integral to each other's success. Hence, when Kobe passed away in a tragic helicopter crash in 2020, it left a void in Shaq's life that could never be filled. Nonetheless, O'Neal does make a point of reminding the world of Bryant's legacy, frequently bringing him up in GOAT discussions, too.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
