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BEFORE I even watch this video...YES, Shaq most definitely underachieved despite being an all time great. The league had literally no answer for Shaq for like at least a 5-8 year stretch yet he won only one MVP, and never once led the league in rebounds or blocks. Think about that for a min. The supposed most dominant force in the history of the game and never led the league in rebs or blks? And that's not even getting into other facts like him being out of shape alot of the time and not really growing his game outside of bully ball despite his talent. All time great but definitely underachieved for what his talents were.
Dude I know you're a youtuber and all ..but you just sitting there a doing so many cuts is fucking annoying..just a friendly suggestion I'd do less u more video
@Money Mitch The Celtics announcer he named is an NBA legend and Rick Barry is also a legend that shot free throws underhanded at like 90% or something
@@donsnow8039 yes also he was cool with shaq he could have helped him with his free throws and got him in to shape. Just like Rick berry helped Wilt with his free throws and told him it's not about stats and be a better team player I hope that makes sense.
I feel like just like Shaq was a physical freak some people are naturally born hard workers, like physically Dennis smith jr is more gifted than Fred vanvleet but vanvleet is a better player
The thing is doe if Shaq big ass stayed in shape and worked more than jus relying on his strength he could've been number 1 all time he got where he is not by skill but because his size now imagine if he worked as hard as Giannis we'd never sayMJ is the greatest all time it would be Shaq
Ofc vanfleet who is close to his prime is better than dennis smith jr who's nba career isnt been easy with injuries but i can guarantee his career will be better than vanfleets when he finds team that fit for him and stays healthy
In the laker Shaq actually chose to be super heavyweight, because he knows he cannot be as smooth as Hakeem, as defensive as The Admiral and has a jumper like Patrick Ewing. So he chose weight and strength to get dominant.
Big diesel shaq > superman shaq, big shaq was still a shot blocker still mobile not as moblie but still above average. Shaq was also more skilled by the time he was the big diesel
@@codenamecm9859 Clearly you never saw Shaq play. In 1996 Shaq broke his thumb and missed 22 games, in 1997 Shaq had a major knee injury and missed 31 games. 1998 Shaq pulled an abdominal strain and missed 20 games yet his production didn't drop. These injuries were in seasons 4,5, & 6 right in his prime
@@melvynsngltn27 Bro I appreciate your comment but I think you miss the point by a mile, I agree that Shaq in his Orlando was Giannis like player can jump out the gym and extremely light on his feet. But in his lakers days, He look like a super heavyweight because he chose to. You can look up on the article and yes injuries always play a factor. But his weight increase has been mention several times why he chose to be like that.
@@codenamecm9859 i think he got tired of teams trying to hurt him. People forget the 2000 playoffs when Portland & Indiana were intentionally jumping on his back
Yes he was, With his dominance he should’ve been top 3 all time, but instead got lazy and had a very quick downfall. Only winning one MVP while being the most dominant in his prime ever is a bit weird too. He could’ve had a much better career to be honest
During the 3peat he had no other centers to challenge him just check the highlights you'll see alot of Chris dudleys olawakandi type players who had no chance
Sports Talk With Zo He started his career in the early 90’s where the NBA was dominated by big man, and Shaq hold his ground. He could’ve easily won a ring in Orlando but Jordan and Olajuwon made it hard
OG_GODlike Actually Shaq was dominating in terms of playing one on one in that finals. But like what you said chemistry issues and that Kobe kept hogging the ball instead of giving it to Shaq
OG_GODlike He could’ve actually had up to 7. Remember in his old years he was actually playing with title contenders, but was to out of shape to do anything in the playoffs
In short Orlando Shaq was what Giannis is now. Athletic, big man with great defence and a decent jump shot. There’s a reason why Shaq said that Giannis is an evolved version of himself.
Can we get a quick R.I.P. for the Timberwolves gm series And a quick R.I.P. for the blazers gm series (even though it didn't start but he said he'd do it after he Finnished T-Wolves series but he never Finnished it)
When I think of Shaq, I inevitably also think of Wilt Chamberlain. They are the two most dominant forces in NBA history who changed the way that the center position is officiated. (Wilt forced the lane to get wider and wider, and Shaq forced officials to allow defenders to maul dominant post players, which may still be in effect up until now). And, of course, both were relative disappointments considering their massive talents and physical attributes. Wilt was often too concerned about his stats. He led the league in assists one year not because he thought it would help his team, but because he wanted to achieve the goal of having the highest APG in the league. He also was self conscious about his size and strength (which was legendary, as in within conversation for all-time strongest man ever, not just in the NBA). Therefore, he preferred using his finesse and agility to dominate rather than his massive strength advantage, such as his love of using finger-rolls to score in the post. Shaq's flaws are mostly mentioned in your video. He was very smart and knew how to play team ball. But he was also very self-conscious about his masculinity, and he often put down others who he thought were too "feminine" and played with finesse (like when he mocked the "Sacramento Queens"). Wilt didn't have Rick Barry to use as an example to shoot underhand free throws during his time, but Shaq did. Shaq's wrist problems, due to an injury from his youth days, prevented him from fully using its motion, hence his bad free throw percentages. He knew that shooting underhand could improve his percentage, but chose not to because he was afraid of being mocked for shooting granny-style free throws. Another example was his chronic arthritic right big toe. Shaq kept on his weight even though he knew that it was making the big toe worse. And he often kept playing on the big toe when it was injured rather than getting it surgically repaired because he was afraid of being called out for taking games off because for a "weak" toe injury. When he went to Miami dropped weight in order to keep up with Pat Riley's notoriously demanding fitness requirements, he blamed the weight loss for his lack of dominance AND for exacerbating his big toe injury, rather than own up to his excess weight in previous years causing the issue. (He claimed that his extra weight was "padding" that helped insulate his big toe from further injury. Whether that makes any sense, you be the judge.) Ironically, the two most physically dominant centers could have swapped their respective sense of masculinity to improve their careers. Wilt, who was utterly secure in his masculinity, could have used more of Shaq's meanness to physically dominate his opponents more. Bill Russell basically ended their friendship when, speaking well after retirement, he admitted he befriended Wilt mostly to soften him up when they faced each other. And Shaq could have used Wilt's decision to use more finesse to reduce his injuries. Shaq also could have used Wilt's dedication to fitness in general.
Shaq is my favorite player of all time but you right he didn’t care about being the best player he cared more about money but I’m happy he won some rings so people can’t say crazy things like they say about melo
Shaq underachieved he had the best chance to be the goat when he was in his laker yrs even though he dominated he didn't have any competition to push him except kobe and that didn't work, dude should've avg 40 but wasn't in shape or couldn't shoot fts
Very much he did. He had a great career but left so much to be desired. If he shot 60% from the free throw line and came into season's in shape, he may have become the goat. His beef with Kobe (mostly) was over his lack of work ethic and reliance on physical skills. He'd be pushing closer to double digit in championships and at least 6 MVP. One of the best Duo's of all time led by two top players working hard on their craft year would be dominant.
Thomas Pitts Kobe was absolutely talented but Kobe didn’t solely rely on his talent like Shaq did. Had Kobe been lazy like Shaq was, Kobe would never have become an all time great. His work ethic made him the Kobe that we all know today
dragonboy141 Kobe wouldn’t rank on any top list for talent, without his work ethic he wouldn’t even be remembered Kobe was all about the grind that’s what made him great
Shaq putting more time into conditioning could've lead to his body breaking down faster, the man managed to stay a dominant force for essentially 14 82 game seasons worth of games despite being over 7 feet tall, which most NBA bigs have failed to accomplish, while "slacking"
It could have, but conditioning + proper dieting could have worked quite well for Shaq. With a lower body weight, the wear and tear of extra conditioning would have been offset by all the extra fat that he had to carry. Shaq during the offseason ate like a pig and therefore, always came into training camp out of shape. Wilt Chamberlain averaged 46 minutes per game throughout his career in an era which was far more fast pace, peaked at 310 pounds in his later years, but only had one major injury, despite being one of the few players in the league that lifted weights during his era. So how was he able to be so much more durable? Because he kept fat off. Chamberlain, even in his later, heavier years, was all muscle and always in tip top shape.
Well considering Shaq did opposite of that, I highly doubt it. Him choosing to gain weight instead of conditioning himself to stay healthy and lighter led to bad injuries. He was past his dominating days after LA. Sure he was still great in Miami, but nothing compared to how he was in LA.
The beginning of your sentence makes no sense ''conditioning'' literally means making your body used to or able to handle stress, if he conditioned his body he would 100% be more healthy period thats what that word means there's no other definition.
@@chuggynation8275 there's studies done that show doing too many pushups every day can cause lower back pain, wrist pain & elbow injuries. Exercise can be good but depending on your physiology you can do more harm than good. If it were as simple as you make it out to be then there'd be no point in guys like LeBron investing millions into sustainable ways to keep his body in top condition.
I've always brought this up when speaking about Shaq. Giannis rn is what shaq could've been (mobility and athleticism wise) had he taken better care of himself. Kobe knew this and told shaq but shaq took it to heart and couldn't handle that truth. He could've been a much better player had he put in more work. Crazy to think considering shaq is already one of the goats, so imagine if he had been a bit more of a hard worker
It wasn’t so much the apex/peak numbers but the fact that he didn’t get to say 65% from the charity stripe and keep his body tight. That led to all kinds of out-of-shape type injuries related to his abdominals, knees, feet etc...he lost like 200+ games to knick knack injuries.
He really underachieved. As dominant as he was he definitely should've had more titles and certainly more than ONE MVP! He just never took his health and conditioning seriously. Best big man I've ever witnessed in my lifetime but truly could've been the best ever.
4 time champion, MVP, and made bank in endorsements. Shaq is simply the guy he was and he did a lot with his career. What could have happened is only imaginary
Plus Shaq was graded by his opponents especially during the 2000's. With the magic he was great in the media eyes with Hakeem, Robinson, Mourning, Mutombo and Ewing. Then with Lakers its basically an old Mutombo and Two so the media really wrote Shaq off as dominating nobody
@@Reubonics not necessarily, but wilt was a 7fter played 6'8" white dudes, the only good player his size was Bill Russell and Bill gave him problems. Put Wilt in a more competitive era with an AD, dwight, Tim Duncan, David Robinson, KG, Patrick Ewing, shaq, Hakeem, I think Dirk wouldve given Wilt problems offensively, big men got so much more common and fluid in the last 40 years. Big men went to war in the 80s, 90s and 2000s, they got more agile while getting stronger aswell. Wilt had zero real competition, look like hes playing high schoolers half the time, if he played in the 90s or 2000s hes averages wouldn't be near the same, 3lb 6oz Bill Russell gave Wilt issues so imagine him running into a frame like shaq or DeAndre Jordan, guys who could actually out muscle him instead of a bunch of white stiffs 6 inches shorter than him.
@@iels7346 You can only play the competition that you have. The injuries that Shaq had throughout his career wouldn't have been treated as effectively in Wilt's time, whereas advances in medicine, fitness, and nutrition would have benefitted Kareem and Wilt now. Shaq is great, but he's also a masterful self-promoter. Unlike, say, Barry Bonds. Having the media on your side is a huge advantage to any legacy.
If Shaq had have practiced his free throws more and hit that 70% mark he wouldn’t have been hacked as much and wouldn’t have shot anywhere near the volume of free throws that he did.
Really all Shaq missed out on was maybe an extra mvp or regular season accolades he still won 4 titles got 3 finals mvp a near unanimous mvp and is pretty much in everyone's top 10. It's hard to call it an underachievment.
Im so glad you made this video. I’ve thought about this some many times through the years and saddened about the amount of wasted potential. Even though a majority of the NBA community love him for his great personality none but Kobe have spoken about his failures at touching greatness. And what’s even worse is that the general public will be okay and even praise Shaqs failure to reach a legendary status. I was always puzzled to why people with a higher level of basket iq would go into why and how shaqs cost him his legacy. However I’m quick to come to realize that’s what made Shaq human, His flaws. Jordon had a huge ego divided his entire team, Kobe obsession destroyed his body, Magic had his lust
I have this gut feeling that Shaq was the biggest factor on the All-star game not being competitive. The more protagonism he got, the worse it came out. And it never recovered from that, until this year. Everybody became more interested on the fancy stuff, and not trying a bit. Correlation doesn't mean causation but when he started with the crossovers it got old faster than light.
If Shaq worked like the Mamba. Kobe and Shaq would have never separated. Shaq's career would have been much much longer. And Kobe Bryant would have never been injured, having to carry a team like he did for several years. I would say between the two of them, at least 6-8 Rings.
Another player that could’ve been one of the GOATS if he actually had the mentality was Vince Carter. He had all the assets to become goated and up there with the big guys but he just didn’t work hard enough to become even better. He’s still going down as a legend but he just could’ve been amazing.
He had a work ethic but it wasn't anything like Kobe's, Shaq definitely could've been in goat conversations if he had the mentality, but I think he sorta accepted it and came to terms with it.
I’ve never thought all that much of Shaq because of this. It’s not like he needed to add much to his game either. A legit post fade, consistent 16’ jumper, and the ability to shoot 70% from the foul line. Oh, and actually defending the pick and roll.
100% Facts. While Shaq was the most dominant player of his era (remember teams getting bigs just to defend Shaq in the playoffs) but if he had put it all together he'd probably be top 3.
I grew up an Arkansas Razorback fan and we fielded some of our best teams when Shaq was at LSU. I knew he'd be the best most dominant center of all time when he got to the NBA. He did fine but I do generally agree that we might've expected him to do a tiny bit more
Disappointment is a strong word. Could have achieved more, yes. But then again even Russell feels like he left 1-2 rings on the floor. During that interview you cite, Shaq and Kobe also mentioned that the Spurs, and Duncan in particular, were just that good. If Wilt had shot 70% from the FT line instead... Pheww! A lot of people can play the "what if" game, including Tim Duncan. It is what it is. I have Shaq #10 all time. Kobe #11. I feel centers should have their own list though. What you want from them is just so different compared to the other positions on the floor. I do agree that he was at his personal best in Orlando. It wasn't the added weight that made him more dominant. He was already a monster. It was seeing Dream up close and personal in the 95 finals, working out with him, and incorporating some of that footwork and the low post moves into his game. If he stays in that shape he's even more dominant.
It speaks to how much of a force Shaq was that he became a top 10 player of all time while half assing a lot of his game. I have always wondered what would have happened had he been a better free throw shooter, because he was a liability in a lot of late game, come from behind situations and spent time on the bench in those situations. Had he been better I can easily see him 1) Scoring a lot more points and 2) Lasting longer because the opposition couldn't foul him like they did which did lead to a number of minor injuries that combined with his weight cost him serious time.
I agree with everything except about defense. He was a great defender. Did he live up to his defensive potential. Of course not. But he was still an elite defender.
Saw a vid like this a few years ago and they made the point of his transformation when he went to LA from Orlando and he gained alot of muscle but said that this was his downfall because the extra weight while at the time helping him in the post it actually caused him to have a shortened prime/career. However still an all time great.
I remember being in LA during their time there. Watching and reading about the drama got pretty old. With all of the success they had, it did not live up to the talent that Mr. West put together on that team.
A great shaq would have been top 5 in scoring, top 5 in rebounds, top 5 in blocks, top 5 in nba history. He would have 4peated at the very least. He would have won MVP over Nash at least once. He could have won another championship with Wade. So at the very least, 6 rings, 2 mvps, top stats in every big category, and a longer career/ greater prime. That would be GOAT material
I remember watching the Lakers wreck the Nets in the finals. Shaq was completely unstoppable, Nets would only go on a run when Shaq was on the bench. If you’ve ever watched Shaq play you saw a force in the post that had no equal.
My older cousins always told me that Shaq had a serious shot at being the goat if he wasn't overweight-- and that's us watching the Kobe and Shaq era when we were still dumb teens. I mean, we've seen MJ dominate the 90's and we felt like if Shaq had enough help, the Orlando Shaq could have won 2 or 3 titles by then.
Shaq underachieved for sure, because we saw his potential (and probably didn't even see his max potential), but he surely WAS NOT a disappointment. He could've been the ultimate definition of the ultimate basketballer, but all he had to do was stay focused and fit, but his mind was on other things ofc
It's funny how Shaq and Kobe were the absolute opposite of each other yet they were teammates. Shaq was absolutely gifted phisically but had a really bad work ethic, while Kobe wasn't as gifted but worked his ass off to be great.
I think Shaq def could have improved his free throw shooting. I’m not sure if he would have been better if he stayed like Orlando shaq cause he wouldn’t have dominate players like he did in LA but at the same time if he put on a little weight like maybe 300 pound she could have become a better player
he did pioneer load management. taking time off probably lengthened his career, given that most big men w/ crazy athletic gifts wish they could of have the longevity of say Todd Gurley.
Watching that Kobe and Shaq sit down for this was sad
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This man said look up brandon knight's stats since being traded back to detroit like they were good or something
BEFORE I even watch this video...YES, Shaq most definitely underachieved despite being an all time great. The league had literally no answer for Shaq for like at least a 5-8 year stretch yet he won only one MVP, and never once led the league in rebounds or blocks. Think about that for a min. The supposed most dominant force in the history of the game and never led the league in rebs or blks? And that's not even getting into other facts like him being out of shape alot of the time and not really growing his game outside of bully ball despite his talent. All time great but definitely underachieved for what his talents were.
Dude I know you're a youtuber and all ..but you just sitting there a doing so many cuts is fucking annoying..just a friendly suggestion I'd do less u more video
KOBE SLAPS BIG MAC OUT OF SHAQ'S HAND
He not supposed to be a 20 year player Kobe is. He is the Rob G of basketball.
Image a Shaq that said “Aye Kobe teach me how to hit these damn free throws”
Yea he should have asked Tommy Hansen ( the Boston Celtics announcer sorry if I missed spelled his name and Rick berry under head free throw).
@Money Mitch The Celtics announcer he named is an NBA legend and Rick Barry is also a legend that shot free throws underhanded at like 90% or something
Money Mitch He just said NBA legend? Where did you get confused?
Money Mitch “nba legend” “he’s not a basketball player”
@@donsnow8039 yes also he was cool with shaq he could have helped him with his free throws and got him in to shape. Just like Rick berry helped Wilt with his free throws and told him it's not about stats and be a better team player I hope that makes sense.
I feel like just like Shaq was a physical freak some people are naturally born hard workers, like physically Dennis smith jr is more gifted than Fred vanvleet but vanvleet is a better player
DJ brodie isn’t even talking bout Rodman bruh
@@Solodoloish i replied to wrong comment
The thing is doe if Shaq big ass stayed in shape and worked more than jus relying on his strength he could've been number 1 all time he got where he is not by skill but because his size now imagine if he worked as hard as Giannis we'd never sayMJ is the greatest all time it would be Shaq
Totally agree on all this
Ofc vanfleet who is close to his prime is better than dennis smith jr who's nba career isnt been easy with injuries but i can guarantee his career will be better than vanfleets when he finds team that fit for him and stays healthy
The only disappointment we can all agree on was his acting career.
😆🤣😂
Clearly didnt see Steel. Q/10 comment. Cinema novice. Hater delete yr account immediately.
Ben Xenos bruh
@@user-gl2lp8um4b 😂
@@benxenos9875 yo chill he was joking
Orlando was Shaq's best version of himself. Big, very mobile, and could jump out the gym. May have been the best prospect coming out of college.
In the laker Shaq actually chose to be super heavyweight, because he knows he cannot be as smooth as Hakeem, as defensive as The Admiral and has a jumper like Patrick Ewing. So he chose weight and strength to get dominant.
Big diesel shaq > superman shaq, big shaq was still a shot blocker still mobile not as moblie but still above average. Shaq was also more skilled by the time he was the big diesel
@@codenamecm9859 Clearly you never saw Shaq play. In 1996 Shaq broke his thumb and missed 22 games, in 1997 Shaq had a major knee injury and missed 31 games. 1998 Shaq pulled an abdominal strain and missed 20 games yet his production didn't drop. These injuries were in seasons 4,5, & 6 right in his prime
@@melvynsngltn27 Bro I appreciate your comment but I think you miss the point by a mile, I agree that Shaq in his Orlando was Giannis like player can jump out the gym and extremely light on his feet. But in his lakers days, He look like a super heavyweight because he chose to. You can look up on the article and yes injuries always play a factor. But his weight increase has been mention several times why he chose to be like that.
@@codenamecm9859 i think he got tired of teams trying to hurt him. People forget the 2000 playoffs when Portland & Indiana were intentionally jumping on his back
I mean, Kobe kinda already said this, and that’s a good person to have on your side if you’re gonna make a bold Basketball statement
JOHNNY!!!
Yes he was, With his dominance he should’ve been top 3 all time, but instead got lazy and had a very quick downfall. Only winning one MVP while being the most dominant in his prime ever is a bit weird too. He could’ve had a much better career to be honest
Jay Waz he honestly should have 2 mvps and 5 chips but He lost to the pistons cuz of chemistry issues and hack a shaq
During the 3peat he had no other centers to challenge him just check the highlights you'll see alot of Chris dudleys olawakandi type players who had no chance
Sports Talk With Zo He started his career in the early 90’s where the NBA was dominated by big man, and Shaq hold his ground. He could’ve easily won a ring in Orlando but Jordan and Olajuwon made it hard
OG_GODlike Actually Shaq was dominating in terms of playing one on one in that finals. But like what you said chemistry issues and that Kobe kept hogging the ball instead of giving it to Shaq
OG_GODlike He could’ve actually had up to 7. Remember in his old years he was actually playing with title contenders, but was to out of shape to do anything in the playoffs
In short Orlando Shaq was what Giannis is now. Athletic, big man with great defence and a decent jump shot. There’s a reason why Shaq said that Giannis is an evolved version of himself.
Shaq had a terrible jump shot bro
Giannis has a terrible jumpshot too.
41 Not as bad as shaq
@@user-sp2he3bk4m it's improving now. At least he tries to improve haha.
@@user-sp2he3bk4m Aged well
A positive way to look at it Shaq. Is that Shaq was so good Shaq didn’t even have to try.
Can we get a quick R.I.P. for the Timberwolves gm series
And a quick R.I.P. for the blazers gm series (even though it didn't start but he said he'd do it after he Finnished T-Wolves series but he never Finnished it)
I really just don't have the time unfortunately
@@rustybuckets it's all good man, it was fun while it lasted, and I love these types of videos anyways
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Oh No doubt! Imagine if he had Kobe's work ethic. To call him a Monster would be an understatement
Kobe had great work ethic and is still way below other players
@@melvynsngltn27 like who, Jordan? That's the only one besides Wilt
@@melvynsngltn27 I'll take being right below Jordan any day of the week lmao
VT 24 Kareem, magic and maybe bird but that’s debatable
@@Kilooma ain't no damn way he below bird. Kareem and Magic is definitely understandable tho
20 years from now when Boomer Rusty making this video about Zion>>>>>>>
Noah Terranova my mans gonna be in a retirement home talking about zion
Nvs man is gonna be like 12 years old in the senior citizen center
Noah Terranova he won’t become a boomer that’s not how it works
Do you even kno what a “Boomer” is nigga?
Zion knees gone buckle he ain’t no goat. Them Jewish owners just like his name.
When I think of Shaq, I inevitably also think of Wilt Chamberlain. They are the two most dominant forces in NBA history who changed the way that the center position is officiated. (Wilt forced the lane to get wider and wider, and Shaq forced officials to allow defenders to maul dominant post players, which may still be in effect up until now).
And, of course, both were relative disappointments considering their massive talents and physical attributes.
Wilt was often too concerned about his stats. He led the league in assists one year not because he thought it would help his team, but because he wanted to achieve the goal of having the highest APG in the league. He also was self conscious about his size and strength (which was legendary, as in within conversation for all-time strongest man ever, not just in the NBA). Therefore, he preferred using his finesse and agility to dominate rather than his massive strength advantage, such as his love of using finger-rolls to score in the post.
Shaq's flaws are mostly mentioned in your video. He was very smart and knew how to play team ball. But he was also very self-conscious about his masculinity, and he often put down others who he thought were too "feminine" and played with finesse (like when he mocked the "Sacramento Queens"). Wilt didn't have Rick Barry to use as an example to shoot underhand free throws during his time, but Shaq did. Shaq's wrist problems, due to an injury from his youth days, prevented him from fully using its motion, hence his bad free throw percentages. He knew that shooting underhand could improve his percentage, but chose not to because he was afraid of being mocked for shooting granny-style free throws.
Another example was his chronic arthritic right big toe. Shaq kept on his weight even though he knew that it was making the big toe worse. And he often kept playing on the big toe when it was injured rather than getting it surgically repaired because he was afraid of being called out for taking games off because for a "weak" toe injury. When he went to Miami dropped weight in order to keep up with Pat Riley's notoriously demanding fitness requirements, he blamed the weight loss for his lack of dominance AND for exacerbating his big toe injury, rather than own up to his excess weight in previous years causing the issue. (He claimed that his extra weight was "padding" that helped insulate his big toe from further injury. Whether that makes any sense, you be the judge.)
Ironically, the two most physically dominant centers could have swapped their respective sense of masculinity to improve their careers. Wilt, who was utterly secure in his masculinity, could have used more of Shaq's meanness to physically dominate his opponents more. Bill Russell basically ended their friendship when, speaking well after retirement, he admitted he befriended Wilt mostly to soften him up when they faced each other. And Shaq could have used Wilt's decision to use more finesse to reduce his injuries. Shaq also could have used Wilt's dedication to fitness in general.
This may seem controversial but I actually have Hakeem and TD over Shaq all time.
That's ok, it's respectable
I also agree, Hakeem is the one of the most underrated players of all time not a lot of people have him in their top 10
So do I. In fact I have them 8,9,10... in the order you have them in.
Not at all. I would take Hakeem over shaq any day of the year. He had more of a complete game on both ends than shaq.
There's nothing controversial about that
Shaq did underachieve, but I would hardly call him a disappointment.
I think he was disappointing in a way that he didnt reach his full potential not his career achievements. He couldve been so much better
Shaq is my favorite player of all time but you right he didn’t care about being the best player he cared more about money but I’m happy he won some rings so people can’t say crazy things like they say about melo
Shaq underachieved he had the best chance to be the goat when he was in his laker yrs even though he dominated he didn't have any competition to push him except kobe and that didn't work, dude should've avg 40 but wasn't in shape or couldn't shoot fts
To be fair, Shaq was averaging like 35 during the laker's three peat
@@Joey-pb6ul in the playoffs im talking regular season
No doubt. Imagine if Shaq had Kobe’s work ethic?!?!?! Easily the best to ever do it
Shaq went to 6 finals.
@@jonathansykes4986 grass grows. What's your point?
@@jonathansykes4986 Robert Horry won 7 rings.
Keep putting out videos like this and I’ll be good while I’m quarantined
thank you for another interesting perspective, I love these kind of new ways of looking at things in the NBA!
If he could make free throws, and stayed in shape he would have been the GOAT
Very much he did. He had a great career but left so much to be desired. If he shot 60% from the free throw line and came into season's in shape, he may have become the goat.
His beef with Kobe (mostly) was over his lack of work ethic and reliance on physical skills.
He'd be pushing closer to double digit in championships and at least 6 MVP.
One of the best Duo's of all time led by two top players working hard on their craft year would be dominant.
No way they are winning 10 championships.. Injuries, trades, egos and bad calls or something like these make winning so much very difficult.
Shaq lit the basketball world on fire from the start of his rookie year... but then he kicked back and roasted marshmallows on that fire.
Good analysis
Shaq underachieved. He most definitely wasn't a disappointment though
Kobe’s Career vs Shaq’s Career is the epitome of Hard Work vs Talent
Let us not forget that Kobe was insanely crazy talented. Because of that I disagree.
Thomas Pitts Kobe was absolutely talented but Kobe didn’t solely rely on his talent like Shaq did. Had Kobe been lazy like Shaq was, Kobe would never have become an all time great. His work ethic made him the Kobe that we all know today
dragonboy141 Kobe wouldn’t rank on any top list for talent, without his work ethic he wouldn’t even be remembered Kobe was all about the grind that’s what made him great
Shaq is that classic guy who got a 3.0 in college but you know deep down inside he could’ve been 4.0 student still a great career
Much like Mickey Mantle. But Mantle had a bad knee and alcoholism.
Shaq putting more time into conditioning could've lead to his body breaking down faster, the man managed to stay a dominant force for essentially 14 82 game seasons worth of games despite being over 7 feet tall, which most NBA bigs have failed to accomplish, while "slacking"
It could have, but conditioning + proper dieting could have worked quite well for Shaq. With a lower body weight, the wear and tear of extra conditioning would have been offset by all the extra fat that he had to carry. Shaq during the offseason ate like a pig and therefore, always came into training camp out of shape. Wilt Chamberlain averaged 46 minutes per game throughout his career in an era which was far more fast pace, peaked at 310 pounds in his later years, but only had one major injury, despite being one of the few players in the league that lifted weights during his era. So how was he able to be so much more durable? Because he kept fat off. Chamberlain, even in his later, heavier years, was all muscle and always in tip top shape.
Well considering Shaq did opposite of that, I highly doubt it. Him choosing to gain weight instead of conditioning himself to stay healthy and lighter led to bad injuries. He was past his dominating days after LA. Sure he was still great in Miami, but nothing compared to how he was in LA.
The beginning of your sentence makes no sense ''conditioning'' literally means making your body used to or able to handle stress, if he conditioned his body he would 100% be more healthy period thats what that word means there's no other definition.
thats like saying if you do to many push ups your arms will '' break down'' faster LMAO.
@@chuggynation8275 there's studies done that show doing too many pushups every day can cause lower back pain, wrist pain & elbow injuries. Exercise can be good but depending on your physiology you can do more harm than good. If it were as simple as you make it out to be then there'd be no point in guys like LeBron investing millions into sustainable ways to keep his body in top condition.
I've always brought this up when speaking about Shaq. Giannis rn is what shaq could've been (mobility and athleticism wise) had he taken better care of himself. Kobe knew this and told shaq but shaq took it to heart and couldn't handle that truth. He could've been a much better player had he put in more work.
Crazy to think considering shaq is already one of the goats, so imagine if he had been a bit more of a hard worker
He never wanted to get better he was comfortable with being himself
It wasn’t so much the apex/peak numbers but the fact that he didn’t get to say 65% from the charity stripe and keep his body tight. That led to all kinds of out-of-shape type injuries related to his abdominals, knees, feet etc...he lost like 200+ games to knick knack injuries.
No matter what he does he never reaches Hakeem Olajuwon no shot
He really underachieved. As dominant as he was he definitely should've had more titles and certainly more than ONE MVP! He just never took his health and conditioning seriously. Best big man I've ever witnessed in my lifetime but truly could've been the best ever.
4 time champion, MVP, and made bank in endorsements. Shaq is simply the guy he was and he did a lot with his career. What could have happened is only imaginary
nice useless comment my dude. Great contribution.
Plus Shaq was graded by his opponents especially during the 2000's. With the magic he was great in the media eyes with Hakeem, Robinson, Mourning, Mutombo and Ewing. Then with Lakers its basically an old Mutombo and Two so the media really wrote Shaq off as dominating nobody
LifeIsGrey your comment fits your name jackass
4 NBA titles, 3 finals mvps, 1 regular season mvp, HOF, being the most dominant or second most dominant player of all time. That’s a hell of a career.
The argument I would make is that Shaq lived his best life instead of lived up to his best potential.
7:17 even Shaq admits the most dominant force in NBA history is Wilt Chamberlain.
Everyone: saying Shaq is the M.D.E.
Wilt:hold my cheatcode
Absolutely. Is Chamberlain a joke to these people?
@@Reubonics not necessarily, but wilt was a 7fter played 6'8" white dudes, the only good player his size was Bill Russell and Bill gave him problems. Put Wilt in a more competitive era with an AD, dwight, Tim Duncan, David Robinson, KG, Patrick Ewing, shaq, Hakeem, I think Dirk wouldve given Wilt problems offensively, big men got so much more common and fluid in the last 40 years. Big men went to war in the 80s, 90s and 2000s, they got more agile while getting stronger aswell. Wilt had zero real competition, look like hes playing high schoolers half the time, if he played in the 90s or 2000s hes averages wouldn't be near the same, 3lb 6oz Bill Russell gave Wilt issues so imagine him running into a frame like shaq or DeAndre Jordan, guys who could actually out muscle him instead of a bunch of white stiffs 6 inches shorter than him.
@@iels7346 You can only play the competition that you have. The injuries that Shaq had throughout his career wouldn't have been treated as effectively in Wilt's time, whereas advances in medicine, fitness, and nutrition would have benefitted Kareem and Wilt now. Shaq is great, but he's also a masterful self-promoter. Unlike, say, Barry Bonds. Having the media on your side is a huge advantage to any legacy.
@@iels7346 wilt put up 29 and 29 on bill
I’ve been making this argument for years!!
He did underachieve to some extent but I feel like work ethic is also something you are born with just like talent
Whoa I see you bro, looking slim with some facial hair. Working on your way to impress Zendaya.
nah I'm too good for Zendaya now
Rusty Buckets 😂
If Shaq had have practiced his free throws more and hit that 70% mark he wouldn’t have been hacked as much and wouldn’t have shot anywhere near the volume of free throws that he did.
but he would have scored even more points and would have been even closer to being unstopable than he was anyway
Yea of they didn't hack him. Then he'd just be allowed to score more in general. Either way it'd lead him to scoring more
Rusty I swear you coming for every legends neck
shaq with a more devolved post game and at least a decent mid range shot would be the goat
I think if he shot 75-80 percent from the line he would be top 3 if not goat that’s all you would really have to change tbh
Yo if Shaq stayed "only" on the 280-290 pound range in his LA days, damn
Forget the points and the free throws, it's alarming that he never once led a single season in rebounding.
Really all Shaq missed out on was maybe an extra mvp or regular season accolades he still won 4 titles got 3 finals mvp a near unanimous mvp and is pretty much in everyone's top 10. It's hard to call it an underachievment.
Im so glad you made this video. I’ve thought about this some many times through the years and saddened about the amount of wasted potential. Even though a majority of the NBA community love him for his great personality none but Kobe have spoken about his failures at touching greatness. And what’s even worse is that the general public will be okay and even praise Shaqs failure to reach a legendary status. I was always puzzled to why people with a higher level of basket iq would go into why and how shaqs cost him his legacy. However I’m quick to come to realize that’s what made Shaq human, His flaws. Jordon had a huge ego divided his entire team, Kobe obsession destroyed his body, Magic had his lust
Jesus man Rusty looks so damn young just a year and a half ago.
He would have been the goat if he shot 80% from the free throw line
cmon give this guy more love, i love your videos but im frustated that you havent reached 100k yet you deserve 1M at least and being humble :)
Lmao "but it helps my channel so fuck it"
Imagine if Shaq worked as hard as Kobe
And being 70 at the line
Shaq would shout you out the building if you tried to present this to him, lol. Great video.
I have this gut feeling that Shaq was the biggest factor on the All-star game not being competitive. The more protagonism he got, the worse it came out. And it never recovered from that, until this year. Everybody became more interested on the fancy stuff, and not trying a bit. Correlation doesn't mean causation but when he started with the crossovers it got old faster than light.
If Shaq worked like the Mamba. Kobe and Shaq would have never separated. Shaq's career would have been much much longer. And Kobe Bryant would have never been injured, having to carry a team like he did for several years. I would say between the two of them, at least 6-8 Rings.
Shaq could have easily topped Kareem in legacy, but he did not have the work ethic. He relied on his physicality over his craft.
Bro you wild With all these damn Hot Takes
Top 10 without even trying. Damn
shaq on the magic and the lakers was his prime
Imagine if Shaq actually tried harder... the amount of backboards that are going to be shattered are going to be massive.
Another player that could’ve been one of the GOATS if he actually had the mentality was Vince Carter. He had all the assets to become goated and up there with the big guys but he just didn’t work hard enough to become even better. He’s still going down as a legend but he just could’ve been amazing.
Black people Eater Vince Carter has all of the physical tools and skills to be mentioned with MJ, Kobe, Lebron, etc.
Vince grossly underachieved.
He had a work ethic but it wasn't anything like Kobe's, Shaq definitely could've been in goat conversations if he had the mentality, but I think he sorta accepted it and came to terms with it.
I’ve never thought all that much of Shaq because of this. It’s not like he needed to add much to his game either. A legit post fade, consistent 16’ jumper, and the ability to shoot 70% from the foul line. Oh, and actually defending the pick and roll.
Shaq left a lot on the table. He left like 3 more championships, an mvp, 20,000 more points, and a DPOY.
For once I agree. He should been The GOAT. Undisputed best center ever, but he was lazy he would even tell you that.
Who is really the best center though? Is it olajuwon or shaq?
@@CDodger24 Kareem, Hakeem, Wilt, Shaq, and then maybe Russell
KirbZ Hakeem is overrated
@@darkrh5404 how so? He can go toe-to-toe with prime shaq and can even beat him.
KirbZ that wasent a prime Shaq but that was a prime Hakeem if the 1995 rockets went against the 2001 lakers I got lakers in 5
Keep up the good work honestly most under rated you tuber out there with mojo
100% Facts. While Shaq was the most dominant player of his era (remember teams getting bigs just to defend Shaq in the playoffs) but if he had put it all together he'd probably be top 3.
Hakeem, Ewing, Robinson, Duncan, The Bulls...
Shaq had some rough competition, don’t think anyone should question “WHAT IF” concerning his career.
Great content, I like new ideas. Keep it up!!
I like the content! Keep it up!
I grew up an Arkansas Razorback fan and we fielded some of our best teams when Shaq was at LSU. I knew he'd be the best most dominant center of all time when he got to the NBA. He did fine but I do generally agree that we might've expected him to do a tiny bit more
Disappointment is a strong word. Could have achieved more, yes. But then again even Russell feels like he left 1-2 rings on the floor. During that interview you cite, Shaq and Kobe also mentioned that the Spurs, and Duncan in particular, were just that good.
If Wilt had shot 70% from the FT line instead... Pheww! A lot of people can play the "what if" game, including Tim Duncan. It is what it is.
I have Shaq #10 all time. Kobe #11. I feel centers should have their own list though. What you want from them is just so different compared to the other positions on the floor. I do agree that he was at his personal best in Orlando. It wasn't the added weight that made him more dominant. He was already a monster. It was seeing Dream up close and personal in the 95 finals, working out with him, and incorporating some of that footwork and the low post moves into his game. If he stays in that shape he's even more dominant.
It speaks to how much of a force Shaq was that he became a top 10 player of all time while half assing a lot of his game. I have always wondered what would have happened had he been a better free throw shooter, because he was a liability in a lot of late game, come from behind situations and spent time on the bench in those situations. Had he been better I can easily see him 1) Scoring a lot more points and 2) Lasting longer because the opposition couldn't foul him like they did which did lead to a number of minor injuries that combined with his weight cost him serious time.
Great video. I completely agree. I’m a huge Shaq fan and I have said most of this for years.
I agree with everything except about defense. He was a great defender. Did he live up to his defensive potential. Of course not. But he was still an elite defender.
Saw a vid like this a few years ago and they made the point of his transformation when he went to LA from Orlando and he gained alot of muscle but said that this was his downfall because the extra weight while at the time helping him in the post it actually caused him to have a shortened prime/career. However still an all time great.
I def agree with if he had Kobe's work ethic he would be top 3 of all time.
If he didn't have to carry his team so much he would of
hed be number 1 cause then he would have a even better mid range game and a longer prime
Personally I think Orlando Shaq is his best basketball self
LA Shaq was dominant.
Excellent video. Hit all the factors.
I remember being in LA during their time there. Watching and reading about the drama got pretty old. With all of the success they had, it did not live up to the talent that Mr. West put together on that team.
Gasol was 2nd Team in 2013 when he won DPOY.
With no NBA loving these topics
A great shaq would have been top 5 in scoring, top 5 in rebounds, top 5 in blocks, top 5 in nba history. He would have 4peated at the very least. He would have won MVP over Nash at least once. He could have won another championship with Wade.
So at the very least, 6 rings, 2 mvps, top stats in every big category, and a longer career/ greater prime. That would be GOAT material
Also I can’t wait to see what u do with the film channel next
" *SEE THAT'S WHAT PISSED ME OFF* "
kobe's frustration revealed.
I remember watching the Lakers wreck the Nets in the finals. Shaq was completely unstoppable, Nets would only go on a run when Shaq was on the bench. If you’ve ever watched Shaq play you saw a force in the post that had no equal.
My older cousins always told me that Shaq had a serious shot at being the goat if he wasn't overweight-- and that's us watching the Kobe and Shaq era when we were still dumb teens. I mean, we've seen MJ dominate the 90's and we felt like if Shaq had enough help, the Orlando Shaq could have won 2 or 3 titles by then.
‘Most dominant force in nba history’, Wilt must have played tennis then
Where's our Deron Williams or Gerald Wallace video? 😂
Andy hoops did that one
One of the greatest underachievers in my opinion if he would've stay the slimmer shaq he probably would have been able to cut his injuries down
People wonder why Rodman could handle Shaq one on one and out-rebound him. Perfect example of the saying about hard work vs. talent.
I call Shaq your typical "Donut Man."
Shaq underachieved for sure, because we saw his potential (and probably didn't even see his max potential), but he surely WAS NOT a disappointment.
He could've been the ultimate definition of the ultimate basketballer, but all he had to do was stay focused and fit, but his mind was on other things ofc
It's funny how Shaq and Kobe were the absolute opposite of each other yet they were teammates. Shaq was absolutely gifted phisically but had a really bad work ethic, while Kobe wasn't as gifted but worked his ass off to be great.
Young man with an old head brain only non-bias will enjoy this channel
I think Shaq def could have improved his free throw shooting. I’m not sure if he would have been better if he stayed like Orlando shaq cause he wouldn’t have dominate players like he did in LA but at the same time if he put on a little weight like maybe 300 pound she could have become a better player
Very good content lately
Massively underachieving career.....
His work ethic genuinely makes my blood boil
he did pioneer load management. taking time off probably lengthened his career, given that most big men w/ crazy athletic gifts wish they could of have the longevity of say Todd Gurley.
Disappointment isn’t the word, underachieved? Yes.