"2001 Shaq vs 2025 Nikola Jokic, what happens?" Shaq: "Slovenian chicken... Imma make his brothers want to fight me."

[Sbp]

Shaq didn't do this to the stronger centers of his gen like Big Country or Sabonis. He's not doing it to Jokic. He's gonna be unstoppable. That's just Shaq. He's unstoppable.

Shaq would slap the piss out Joker like he did Greg Ostertag.

 

[Shadow King]

A lot of people think that way...just read through this thread....

Also these arguments always leave out the when these games would be played....is it 2000 or is it 2025?

If it's 2000 then centers didn't play like Jokic plays now...and vice versa....for Shaq in 2025....

Let's be neutral and put them in 2013.

 

[Shadow King]

It's not even close.

Shaq could dominate on both ends of the floor, defensively and offensively; I don't know why people acting like Shaq in his prime wasn't elite defensively; the Lakers don't 3peat without his defense, as well as his offense, of course, but to act like Shaq was mid on defense is just revisionist tales.

Jokic is all offensive with the occasional defensive play, but don't count on him to defend at a high level consecutively, and the only way he wins is by outscoring Shaq, which wouldn't be easy, especially in the paint.

Because Shaq wasn't elite defensively. I go to bat against the notion of Shaq being a mediocre defender on here but elite is too much.

 

[who_better_than_me]

Shaq didn't do this to the stronger centers of his gen like Big Country or Sabonis. He's not doing it to Jokic. He's gonna be unstoppable. That's just Shaq. He's unstoppable.

In 2001, when Shaq played against Bryant Reeves and the Grizzlies he averaged 31 and 15.

 

[who_better_than_me]

Because Shaq wasn't elite defensively. I go to bat against the notion of Shaq being a mediocre defender on here but elite is too much.

Not consistently but those Lakers squads back in the day, when it was winning time it was also clamping time because they. Would routinely clamp down and make oppositions go on these 3+ minute scoring droughts. It’s like they played around until it was time to get serious

 

[Shadow King]

Not consistently but those Lakers squads back in the day, when it was winning time it was also clamping time because they. Would routinely clamp down and make oppositions go on these 3+ minute scoring droughts. It’s like they played around until it was time to get serious

Shaq =/= the entire Laker team.

Shaq was a league average rim protector by FG% but weighing 350+ kept players from trying.

 

[who_better_than_me]

Shaq =/= the entire Laker team.

Shaq was a league average rim protector by FG% but weighing 350+ kept players from trying.

That’s right his defensive presence was a huge part of the Lakers defense.

 

[10bandz]

Yup. Dudes are so insecure about their 90s icons and back then a lot of it stemmed from wanting to see Kobe humbled bc of the Jordan comparisons, but i digress. Fact of the matter is: Shaq had transcendent physical abilities but had virtually no offense outside of hook shot range. Which is fine, but then he also couldn't shoot free throws, which added to his rep as a front-runner who needed to be bailed out when things got close or teams packed the paint.

Dudes have selective memory with how he bulked up with LAL dunkin on Chris Dudley, flexin the Superman tatoo, but leave out how he was getting beat up and down the floor so bad by Greg cotdamn Osterstag in the playoffs that it had the NBC halftime crew questioning Shaq's commitment to defense/winning/conditioning. Which is all to say, Shaq is a top 10 all-time player but my gawd the shyt the coli would be sayin if his first 9 years in the league ('92-'99) played out the exact same way in this era with the overanalzying and social media; all the highs and lows ending with him always getting swept out the playoffs. each. and. every. time.

Yup you're 100 on everything. They not ready for that discussion

 

[Trojan 24]

Shaq dropping 35/15 and Jokic probably puts up 30/12/8







But Kobe drops 45 and puts the soft Canadian in clamps, Lakers by 20

 

[Po pimp]

Shaq didn't do this to the stronger centers of his gen like Big Country or Sabonis. He's not doing it to Jokic. He's gonna be unstoppable. That's just Shaq. He's unstoppable.

Games Played Between Shaquille O'Neal and Arvydas Sabonis

This is the detail of NBA games in which Shaquille O'Neal and Arvydas Sabonis played against each other, including head-to-head record, stats average, game highs and game-by-game data both in the Regular Season and Playoffs.

www.landofbasketball.com

Shaq averaged 28 and 12 to Sabonis 10 and 7. Shaq’s teams went 23-16 against his teams

 

[Po pimp]

Shaq dropping 35/15 and Jokic probably puts up 30/12/8







But Kobe drops 45 and puts the soft Canadian in clamps, Lakers by 20

Jokic would be in foul trouble (preventing himself from averaging 30) or Shaq goes for 40+

 

[JoelB]

Jokic couldnt handle Embiid but he would beat prime Shaq?

 

[Flex Grossman]

Jokic couldnt handle Embiid but he would beat prime Shaq?

jokic is shytting on embiid in a playoff series, but congrats to Embiid for load managing for a week before he plays Jokic at home, having a good game, then ducking the matchup in Denver.

 

[JoelB]

jokic is shytting on embiid in a playoff series, but congrats to Embiid for load managing for a week before he plays Jokic at home, having a good game, then ducking the matchup in Denver.

u gotta use your imagination to picture that lol. In real life Embiid up 6-2 in their matchups.
Yall talk about Denver like its Narnia

 

[Peruvian Connect]

Shaq would slap the piss out Joker like he did Greg Ostertag.

Ostertag 8-1 against Shaq in the playoffs