In this week's episode of The Big Podcast, hosts Shaquille O'Neal and Adam Lefkoe confessed that they often have disagreements. And it's not hard to see why. Shaq, the former NBA player-turned-analyst, doesn't always see eye to eye with Lefkoe and other NBA media personalities. This time, the source of their disagreement was the praise being given to Chet Holmgren, the rookie from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
During the podcast, Lefkoe praised Holmgren, calling him "phenomenal." But Shaq wasn't having any of it. As the self-proclaimed leader of the Big Man Alliance, he believes that the title of "phenomenal" should be reserved for the elite big men in the league, and Holmgren hasn't played long enough to earn that title.
"Y'all are using words that we had to work hard to earn. 'Phenomenal' is not the right word... He's good, but let's not go around promising greatness and a future Hall of Famer. From today on, I'm putting an end to all of that. You can't just give these titles to people who haven't put in the work," Shaq directed his frustration towards Lefkoe and the NBA media.
But Shaq didn't stop there. He demanded to see a long and consistent career from Holmgren to justify all the hype surrounding him. "Phenomenal is the wrong word.
And you can't use 'dominant' unless he does it consistently for a long time – I'm talking years, not just two or three games."
Holmgren has had a promising start to his NBA career, with impressive numbers and a pivotal role in Thunder's 20-9 start. But Shaq needs to see sustained success before he gives his approval. After all, when Shaq was a rookie, he was averaging 23.4 points in 1992, a record that even Victor Wembanyama matched.
Shaq is known for stirring up controversy, and his opinions on big men in the NBA are no exception. On the same podcast, he admitted that he intentionally says things to get people talking.
And his comments about Holmgren and the NBA media certainly did that. Fans took to social media to counter his arguments with facts about Holmgren's potential.
It's important to note that Shaq did acknowledge Holmgren's potential and expressed his desire to see him become a dominant player in the future. He just believes that it's too soon to attach such lofty titles and expectations to him.
Expect Shaq to continue fueling discussions and debates with his opinions on big men in the NBA. That's just how the most dominant center in NBA history operates.
