« It was boring and far too easy »: the enormous arrogance of the Shaq

Shaquille O’Neal was such a dominant player at his prime that he didn’t always have adequate competition. Once, in particular, the Diesel was downright bored on the most beautiful of scenes as the gap was enormous between him and his counterpart! Lunar.

If the youngest especially know Shaquille O’Neal Through his punchlines in Inside The NBA, the alumni remember one of the most dominant players in history, who had a golden bonus in Los Angeles with 3 rings in 3 seasons between 2000 and 2002. Unstoppable at that time. there the Big Cactus almost found it… too easy to earn rings.

In 2002, the Lakers crossed swords with the Nets in the NBA Finals, for a resounding 4-0 sweep. The averages of the colossus on the series? 36.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.8 blocks. Without forcing. Many years later, Superman revealed at the microphone of Scoop B. Robinson that he does not have a good memory of these Finals, because they were too easy!

Shaq on playing Nets in ’02 Finals: “It was boring.”

I actually got mad when we were playing in Jersey. You think Todd McCollough is going to stop me at the crib in Jersey in front of my grandma and grandpa?… .Sheeeeeit! No. Stop it. ”

– Via Scoop B Radio pic.twitter.com/E3a7rhqSMA

– 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson 📍 (@ScoopB) September 17, 2021

Shaq on the 2002 Finals against the Nets: “It was boring”.

“I was actually really pissed off about the games we played in Jersey. Do you think Todd MacCulloch is going to stop me at my home in Jersey, in front of my grandmother and grandfather ?? Meeeec… Nah. Stop that ! « 

It’s rude, it’s violent, but is it wrong? The poor Todd MacCulloch, holder in the racket of the Nets that year, will have held only 4 years in the NBA, for averages of barely 7 points and 5 rebounds. And indeed, as you can see in the video below, it’s a real mixtape that the Shaq inflicted on poor “Big Mac” in 2002:

Karma knocked on the door, however, and the Lakers paid dearly for their arrogance the following year, in 2003, when Spurs kicked them out of the conference semi-final playoffs. Then came the year 2004 with the « superteam » and the additions of Gary Payton, Karl Malone and others, for a new failure in the final and the final explosion of the dynasty.

Used to rubbing shoulders with Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson and others, Shaquille O’Neal was almost offended at having to cross swords with Todd MacCulloch in the NBA Finals. As the main interested party would say: « barbecue chicken », of the finest kind.