Shaquille O’Neal has developed a reputation for hyperbole over the years.
In the process, he became one of the most popular NBA players in history — except maybe in his adopted hometown of San Antonio.
O’Neal’s recent interview with NBA.com that preceded the release of his autobiography provided some comedic nuggets that only the “Big Aristotle” could give us.
When asked about his celebrated time with Kobe Bryant, O’Neal called the pairing “the most controversial, most dominant one-two punch ever created.”
“There will be never be another one-two punch like that. There will never be another little man- big man dominant tandem. We were the Lakers’ most dominant tandem ever.”
Shaquille must not have noticed when Wilt Chamberlain played with Jerry West (and Elgin Baylor) and when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar teamed with Magic Johnson. Or even taken into account when a younger Abdul-Jabbar hooked up with Oscar Robertson in Milwaukee.
Ego got in the way when Bryant and O’Neal played together. It helped blow up the team after they won three consecutive NBA titles from 2000-02.
But with the benefit of hindsight, O’Neal has a different attitude about their time together.
“If you look at every successful group, there’s always been respectable riffs,” O’Neal said. “The Beatles. Sanford and Son. There’s always been respectable riffs that have gone on.”
It’s interesting that O’Neal would pull “Sanford and Son” to make his comparison.
I’m just curious if Bryant ever called Shaquille “The Big Dummy” like Fred Sanford used to call his son, Lamont, back in the day.