Shaq's Comments on "If Duncan Got #5 Before Him"

[duncan228]

wait a minute.... is this mouse?

It's not mouse.

[SenorSpur]

I'm as big a Spurs fan as there is and I despise Shaq but the league just wont be as fun without him. In 10 years I bet almost every one of you will miss the guy more than you thought possible.

I doubt that. His years of bad conditioning and laziness haven't helped him extend his productivity. His on-court contributions are now irrevelant. Sure he can muster up the occasional double-double. However, he can't do it on consecutive nights anymore. Defensively he's as bad as he's ever been - especially on pic-n-rolls. He's become a mere shadow of his former self. He's just hanging on collecting a paycheck - and a very, very healthy paycheck, at that. As of last season, his run annual all-star appearances are now over. I don't see very many highlights of him on ESPN now. Therefore, if he didn't run his mouth so goddamn much, I wouldn't know he's in the league now.

Also, from 99-01 he was the most dominant player i've ever seen...including MJ. I dont know what changed between the '99 playoffs and the start of the '99-00 season (Phil Jacksons arrival?) but he was a different kind of beast altogether. He'll always be appreciated for that putting on that kind of display.

His dominance during that period is undeniable. We all know that. He doesn't have to keep reminding everybody. He comes off like the old, wounded lion in the wild. He knows his last days are in sight. He's merely growling to send a message to the young upstarts that he's still around. At this point, he's living off sheer reputation and that growl is all he has left.

[Obstructed_View]

And there is no bigger expert about lame than you. So you should know.

Oh my god, you are actually the worst poster in a thread that has Louis bouncing around in it. You've officially hit a new low.

[MrChug]

God I love Colleen Dominguez.

[Galileo]

I think that Shaq knows that the historical question about the best big man of this generation is one that is moving in Duncan's favor -- rings are equal; their head-to-heads in playoff series are now equal (3-3); Each Shaq's got better scoring numbers, TD's got better rebounding numbers; TD has 2 MVP's to Shaq's 1; TD has 9 First Team All-NBA's to Shaq's 8; Timmy has 11 All-Defense selections to Shaq's 3; Tim's teams have never lost in the First Round while Shaq's teams have done so three different times.

And the fact that Shaq sees it as a compe ion just confirms his respect for Duncan -- Shaq definitely knows that his place in history, at least compared to Duncan, hangs in the balance.

Players who have accomplished more in the NBA than Shaq:

Jordan
Kareem
Magic
Russell
Duncan
Bird
Bob Cousy

[m33p0]

Players who have accomplished more in the NBA than Shaq:

Jordan
Kareem
Magic
Russell
Duncan
Bird
Bob Cousy

That is a short list. And with only Duncan and him being the only ones active, its clear why Shaq sees it as a compe ion.

[FromWayDowntown]

That is a short list. And with only Duncan and him being the only ones active, its clear why Shaq sees it as a compe ion.

Which was exactly my point.

[T Park]

So just curious, so should he have just said
"Oh, if he got #5 I'll bow to him and just retire"

Hes a compe ive athlete and wants to beat Duncan.

Thats all I read into it, and thats all I saw.

Some of you guys make more into things than whats really there.

[Killakobe81]

If Duncan had been there instead, the 3-peat Lakers would've been th 8-peat Lakers, they would've been THE dynasty.

I have NEVER read truer words on this site ...and i have said many times when TD one his FIRST le i would of traded SHAQ for Duncan straight up everyone in LA thought i was crazy ...but i knew bothe Kobe and Duncan would be that good ... but now you wouldnt even trade Manu or parker for Shaq ...
Shaq is great but Duncan is greater better fundamentals, passion, committment to team and conditioning ...better defender I dont care that Shaq played for the Lakers and TD for spurs he and hakeem best big men since Kareem Shaq is third ...

[Killakobe81]

Players who have accomplished more in the NBA than Shaq:

Jordan
Kareem
Magic
Russell
Duncan
Bird
Bob Cousy

Essentially true but I still believe hakeem was a more complete center

[dbreiden83080]

That is a short list. And with only Duncan and him being the only ones active, its clear why Shaq sees it as a compe ion.

Duncan still has a few years of high level play left. Tony and Manu if healthy are still huge forces in the league. The Suns days as contenders are gone. Nash now gets it handed to him by the likes of Tony and Chris Paul. They had a 3 or 4 year window to win it all, they could not get it done. Shaq is maybe half the player he was in his prime. He is not likely to get number 5, unless he walks into one, on a different team basically just riding the bench.

[dbreiden83080]

Essentially true but I still believe hakeem was a more complete center

I think Hakeem had a more dominant prime but did not sustain that as long as some other great centers.

[JamStone]

This is just me guessing, but I think some of the people who are blasting Shaq now were probably laughing and amused when Shaq did that rap about Kobe. But, once he answers a question about Tim Duncan, all of a sudden Shaq is an insecure, petulant, immature kid.

Uh o, we already knew that. I actually don't think there was anything wrong with what Shaq said. He said he'd be pissed if Duncan got a fifth first. The guy is being honest. He cares about his legacy, maybe too much. Maybe he's too self absorbed and insecure with his legacy. It's who he is. He plays up to the crowd, he's the lovable teddy bear giant, the clown, and he often wears his emotions on his sleeve. It's who he's always been. He always took criticism to heart, whether it was his free throw shooting or his weight.

There was actually nothing wrong with what he said about being pissed if Duncan won #5 before him. It fits who he is. And, I don't think it's an "act." It's really who he is.

[dbreiden83080]

This is just me guessing, but I think some of the people who are blasting Shaq now were probably laughing and amused when Shaq did that rap about Kobe.

Uh We were laughing and amused and calling him a clown and an asshole for doing that. It was funny yes, but he was not in the right when he did it. I don't take what Shaq says seriously because he is such a 24/7 clown. Yeah he is being honest, about how big an imature ass-clown he really is.

[JamStone]

Is it immature for Shaq to want to be better than a great player?

Was it immature for David Robinson to score 71 points in the final game of the season against a non playoff team to get the scoring le?

Players want to be the best they possibly can be. They want to break records, have a legacy. In this regard with what he said in this particular interview, Shaq is like most highly compe ive great professional athletes.

Sure, he's insecure and immature. But not with the statement he made about being pissed if Duncan gets a fifth before him.

[LA24]

I just saw that interview and Shaq said the whole "I'd be pissed...." line with a huge smirk on his face. I didn't see any insecurity in his demeanor at all or any contempt directed at Tim. He even said he won't catch Bill Russell's number of rings won and concluded he'd probably be 2nd behind him in all time great big men (it takes a wee bit of humility to say that). You guys are making this worse than it really is, and I'm not even a Shaq fan.

And seeing his remarks about the whole Kobe rap thing, I actually believe that he really was just playing up to the crowd.

He can be crass and a jerk at times, but he seemed sincere enough this time.

[GSH]

Yeah, yeah... and when Snaq gets upset, he's "been known to do certain things... like win championships." We all heard Snaq bluster at the beginning of last season. Now if Duncan gets to #5 ahead of him, Snaq's gonna go off on everybody and average 30-20 for the season. It's gonna be exciting to watch - I can hardly wait.

I think Snaq better focus on getting his Deputy Dawg badge back, so he'll have something to do after basketball.

[GSH]

Players who have accomplished more in the NBA than Shaq:

Jordan
Kareem
Magic
Russell
Duncan
Bird
Bob Cousy

+ Wilt and Oscar Robertson, at minimum.

[T Park]

I just saw that interview and Shaq said the whole "I'd be pissed...." line with a huge smirk on his face. I didn't see any insecurity in his demeanor at all or any contempt directed at Tim. He even said he won't catch Bill Russell's number of rings won and concluded he'd probably be 2nd behind him in all time great big men (it takes a wee bit of humility to say that). You guys are making this worse than it really is, and I'm not even a Shaq fan.

And seeing his remarks about the whole Kobe rap thing, I actually believe that he really was just playing up to the crowd.

He can be crass and a jerk at times, but he seemed sincere enough this time.

Can't argue with this.

Spot on, good post

[mrspurs]

I remember what Shaq said when Drob got a ring before he did. But since I dont cuss, I cant repeat it. Im sure someone in here can type it.

[HarlemHeat37]

Bob Cousy? LOL no, not even close..

I'd put Shaq around 7th-9th all-time..

Jordan, Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Russell, Bird are the elite 6..Shaq would either be my 7th or 8th, in a toss-up with Hakeem..

Tim could surpass him career-wise with a few more all-NBA selections on both sides..a championship puts Tim ahead of both Hakeem and Shaq..

[duncan228]

“He’s got a ring, so I’m taking home the trophy.” (Shaq, Referring to the co-MVP honors for both Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan in the 2000 All-Star game.)

Shaq's said some pretty funny things over the years. This is a good site with tons of quotes, and you can search it by catagory. It also has Shaq YouTube links.

shaqquotes.com

Catagories:
On Winning
On Kobe Bryant & The Lakers
On Free Throws
On His Greatness
About Himself
On His Education
Shaq Inventing Words
On His Nicknames
On Coaches
On The Media
On The Referees & The NBA
Miscellaneous

[SenorSpur]

This is just me guessing, but I think some of the people who are blasting Shaq now were probably laughing and amused when Shaq did that rap about Kobe. But, once he answers a question about Tim Duncan, all of a sudden Shaq is an insecure, petulant, immature kid.

Uh, I don't think so. Not everyone.

My personal comments about this guy have absolutely zero to do with Duncan. When he performed that adolescent rap on Kobe, I called him out in this forum for "keeping the purported Shaq/Kobe feud alive" for yet another year. In fact, I fully expected another Xmas Day tilt of Shaq vs Kobe - Part VIII. Thankfully, the networks have spared us all of that for this year.

At some point in his career, I presumed this guy would finally grow up and start acting like an adult, as opposed to the immature child that he's been his whole career. That would mean rising above the petty jealousies that caused him to be run out of L.A. It's perfectly fine to seek and destroy the compe ion on the court, but how about being a sportsman off the court?

What difference does it make anyway? He's got his 4th le. Kobe is still chasing his. His point has been made. He'll go down as truly one of the all-time greats. Period. His legend is as secure as can be.

If he's still so insecure about his place in history, I've some good advice for him. Go out and work to raise his FT % above a pitiful 52%.

[JamStone]

"some" does not = "everyone"

[samikeyp]

"some" does not = "everyone"

to some on this board, it does.