Shaquille O’Neal is fed up with today’s NBA. He thinks it’s really soft
On a fiery new episode of The Big Podcast with guest Roy Wood Jr., the Hall of Famer didn’t hold back — especially when it came to one name: Ben Simmons.
While the conversation touched on the current state of the league, Shaq saved his harshest words for the underperforming former All-Star, making it clear he’s had enough of players getting superstar money without superstar production.
Ben Simmons: Caught in the Crossfire
When the conversation turned to underachieving stars, Shaq zeroed in on one name: Ben Simmons.
“Ben Simmons needs to be fking arrested,” he snapped. “$250 million for that sh*t? Get the fk out of my face. Robbing people, man. You can’t do that.”
Simmons, the former No. 1 pick in 2016, started strong with Rookie of the Year honors and three All-Star selections. But since signing a massive $170 million extension in 2019, it’s been a steep decline. He missed the entire 2021-22 season, got shipped from Philly to Brooklyn, and now finds himself with the Clippers — barely.
This season? Just 17 games played, averaging 3.6 points and 3.4 assists in a little over 17 minutes per game. Not exactly a return on investment for someone who’s raked in over $200 million.
Simmons recently told The New York Post he’s finally found peace in L.A., saying the city fits his vibe. “Being in LA, I feel like me as a person, it’s my kind of scenery or environment.”
For Shaq, though, that environment still looks like a crime scene.
“You ain’t fking great, and I’m great — how can I hate on you?”
Shaq made one thing clear: he’s not a hater — he’s just been around greatness and refuses to lower the bar.
“People throw the word ‘hate’ around. You ain’t f**king great, and I’m great — how can I hate on you? That don’t make no sense. I’m in the building, you’re not in the building.”
While he did tip his hat to a few current stars — Jokic, Giannis, Dame, Tatum — the rest of the league? Not cutting it.
So if you were hoping for Uncle Shaq to soften up and hand out participation trophies, don’t hold your breath. He’s got the resume, the rings, and the mic — and he’s not afraid to use it.
