Shaquille O’Neal never particularly supported the generation of players who followed him. Fights with other top men like Dwight Howard, JaVale McGee and Rudy Gobert have become commonplace for the current TNT broadcaster and Hall of Fame center, but their criticisms hit rock bottom in a recent interview with Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell. Speaking to Mitchell live on television, O’Neal told him that “you don’t have what it takes to get to the next level” and justified the statement by suggesting that he wanted Mitchell to hear it as a form of motivation.
O’Neal was severely criticized by the interview, with modern fans and stars like Kevin Durant and LeBron James speaking in defense of Mitchell. But, instead of apologizing for his statement, O’Neal doubled down. On Monday, O’Neal posted a slideshow on Instagram showing former teammates Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Steve Nash, Gary Payton, Penny Hardaway and LeBron James with a caption that said, “This is how it looks like greatness in the guard position. I played with the best of all to do. You know, I know what’s best. # I don’t have to hate. You know I have a G14 rating to say what I say. “
The post was strange on several levels. James criticized O’Neal for what he told Mitchell, but he appeared on the slide show. Although Mitchell is not that talented, he is often compared to Wade, who also appears. It should also be noted that Mitchell, 24, is only in his fourth season in the NBA and currently leads a candidate. He may not be the same as the players shown yet, but to suggest that he doesn’t have a chance to get there seems extremely premature.
But O’Neal is hardly known for his moderation. He often fought with opponents (and even teammates) as a player, and this has now been taken to his broadcasting career. He apparently committed himself to his anti-Mitchell stance, but if the young Jazz star continues to grow at the pace he has been doing so far, Shaq may soon regret that stance.