The center position has changed enormously in recent years and nowadays, big men should not only have their backs to the basket, but also be able to shoot threesomes. Center legend Shaquille O’Neal has now commented in the official Lakers podcast on how he would cope with today’s game.
Apart from their versatility on the offensive, Bigs are now expected to be able to defend several positions. O’Neal, however, has no doubt that he would have made it. “Of course I could do that. Many people say that the game is completely different now. No. When people do things differently, you have to do something differently yourself. Today a lot of people throw Jumpers, but I make my money in the Zone,” Shaq said.
“Many people don’t understand that it takes a certain amount of strength to take jump shots. Some players would try that against me for three quarters, but then they would have no strength left in the last quarter. I would always have that physical advantage. Because I don’t know how much I care about fines. When such a player comes into the zone, I let him feel it. All the time. I don’t care if there are fines or a ban. The point is that I can establish this psychological aspect,” explained the MVP in 2000.
Shaq also had a clear answer to the question of whether he would throw threesomes today. “No, I wouldn’t do that. That’s not what Big Men are for,” said O’Neal. “If I played today, I’d average 50 points without free throws. I’d play 50 because nobody plays physically anymore. You’re crying and I’d punish anyone for it.”
Already in his era, O’Neal was an extraordinary physical phenomenon, in his opinion this would only be more the case today. “Everybody talks about jump shots, but today’s boys would have to defend me, too. And you can’t do that with three or four fouls. I would just punish that. I haven’t lost to many people who wanted to throw Jumpers at me yet, but I beat everybody in the zone. That’s why I’d hang up at least 40 on average today without any problems.”
O’Neal, who ended his career in 2011, scored the eighth most points in NBA history. With the Lakers (2000-2002) and the Heat (2006) he won four NBA titles, at all Lakers titles he also became final MVP.