Earlier this week, Chris “Mad Canine” Russo had a controversial take when he stated Shaquille O’Neal is not one of many prime 5 facilities in NBA historical past.
The New York radio legend listed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone and Tim Duncan all forward of O’Neal.
O’Neal heard the clip on his new podcast when his cohost, Adam Lefkoe, let him know of Russo’s take.
Shaq attends the Michelob Extremely & Netflix “Full Swing” Premiere & Tremendous Bowl After Occasion Feb. 11, 2023, in Phoenix, Ariz. (Daniel Boczarski/Getty Pictures for Michelob Extremely)
“Who the f— is that?” O’Neal stated.
When Lefkoe described him as a “legendary” host for WFAN, O’Neal stated, “He is legendary to you. He isn’t legendary to me.”
Lefkoe then performed the length of the clip during which Russo provides his prime 5, and O’Neal was blunt.
“Let’s simply get it straight: I’ll smack the s— outta that dude,” O’Neal stated.
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“However let’s get off that. I can’t be on that. I’m company,” he shortly added.
O’Neal had no qualms about Abdul-Jabbar and Chamberlain, however principally due to their longevity within the sport. And, in Chamberlain’s case, solely as a result of he scored extra factors.
In terms of the prime of gamers’ careers, although, O’Neal says he was unmatched.
Former NBA participant Shaquille O’Neal attends the disclosing of the Shaq Courts on the Doolittle Complicated donated by Icy Scorching and the Shaquille O’Neal Basis in partnership with the town of Las Vegas Oct. 23, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Pictures for Icy Scorching)
“I’m essentially the most dominant middle. I don’t ever wanna hear one other title once more,” he stated.
O’Neal stated he would put himself at No. 3 amongst facilities all-time.
“LSU: Statue, retired jersey. Orlando Magic: About to be the primary retired jersey. L.A.: Retired jersey, statue. I did my factor,” he stated.
O’Neal received 4 NBA titles, three with the Lakers and one with the Miami Warmth.
His No. 32 is retired in Miami. If his No. 32 is retired by the Magic, he would be part of solely Chamberlain as a participant whose jersey is retired by three groups.
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, left, holds the Larry O’Brian trophy as teammate Shaquille O’Neal holds the MVP trophy after profitable the NBA championship towards the Indiana Pacers June, 19, 2000. (AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
O’Neal averaged 23.7 factors and 10.9 rebounds throughout his Corridor of Fame profession and was named an All-Star 15 occasions, together with in his rookie 12 months in 1993 and his seventeenth season in 2009.
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