Featured Image Credit: The Big Podcast with Shaq/YouTube
Topics: NBA, Basketball, Shaquille ONeal, Ben Simmons
John McDougall
Topics: NBA, Basketball, Shaquille ONeal, Ben Simmons
Shaquille O'Neal has made his feelings clear in calling for one NBA star to be 'arrested' for 'robbing people' after suggesting he ought not to be playing at such a level of basketball.
Shaq represented six teams in the NBA throughout his career which spanned almost 20 years, playing for Orlando Magic, the LA Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics, before retiring in 2011.
During his time on the court, the now 52-year-old became NBA champion on four occasions during spells with the Lakers and the Heat, as well as being named the NBA Finals MVP three times.
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Nowadays, Shaq is an NBA analyst for TNT and is not shy in voicing his opinions, which as one of basketball's GOATs alongside the likes of Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, holds real merit.
Speaking on The Big Podcast with Shaq, the former center took aim at several current NBA stars who he feels cannot play in any era of the NBA.
And Shaq - who also won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta as part of the triumphant American team - took particular aim at Los Angeles Clippers star Ben Simmons, who this season is averaging 5.4 points per night, even going so far as suggesting the Australian should be 'arrested' and was 'robbing people'.
In an expletive-filled outburst, Shaq said: "A lot of these motherf***ers can't play - and they know it in any f*** era. They can't f***ing play. [I'm] just saying.
"Pick and roll, one on one, motherf***er can't play, dawg. [Nikola Jokic] can play. Giannis [Antetokounmpo] can play. Dame [Lillard], a couple of these guys can play, but a lot of these motherf***er can't play.
"Ben f***ing Simmons, that motherf***er needs to be arrested. Jayson Tatum can play. He's alright. I'm not going to bash him. But Ben Simmons need to be f***ing arrested. $250million for that bullsh**t Get the f*** out of my face. Robbing people, man. You can't do that."
Simmons joined the Clippers earlier this year on a contract for 12 months worth more than $1 million.
But in 2019, he put pen to paper on a new five-year deal with then side the Philadelphia 76ers worth $170m, and according to Sportrac, Simmons has amassed more than $203m from his basketball career so far.