Shaquille O'Neal snubs Michael Jordan while picking 'unbeatable' three-man dream team

Shaquille O'Neal named his all-time BIG3 team and he surprisingly left out NBA legend Michael Jordan.

The BIG3 - a 3v3 basketball league played in the summer - was founded in 2017 when Ice Cube - real name O'Shea Jackson - teamed up with entertainment executive Jeff Kwaitnetz.

It was designed to fill the gap between the end of the NBA Finals in June and the beginning of the NFL season in September.

This year's BIG3 play-offs took place in Dallas last Sunday, with O'Neal among the big names present at the American Airlines Center.

He was asked to name his dream BIG3 team and he went with himself and two of his former teammates while leaving out Jordan.

'Shaq' opted for ex-Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant and former Orlando Magic colleague Penny Hardaway.

Shaquille O'Neal played alongside Kobe Bryant during his spell with the Los Angeles Lakers. Image: Getty

Asked to name his BIG3 team, he told Courtside Buzz: "Me, Kobe [Bryant], and Penny [Hardaway]. Undefeated. Never gonna lose a game."

Jordan, however, got in Cube's ultimate BIG3 team, alongside O'Neal as well as Bryant.

The rap pioneer revealed: "Michael Jordan of course... it’s hard to not go with Shaq... you can’t lose with Kobe, Jordan, and Shaq. How could you lose with that combo?"

What has Shaq said about the NBA GOAT debate?

O'Neal's opinion on the NBA GOAT debate is highly respected given his legendary career, having won four NBA championships.

He played with Bryant during his spell with the Lakers and holds him in high regard.

Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal during an NBA fixture between Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic. Image: Getty

O'Neal never played with Jordan but came up against the Chicago Bulls icon on the court on several occasions.

He reckons 'MJ' is the best to ever do it in the NBA ahead of fellow basketball greats Bryant and LeBron James.

"When I got to the NBA, Michael Jordan dominated. Then came Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. But for me, the greatest of all time is Michael Jordan," the 53-year-old told Sport Bild.

In another interview, he doubled down on his Jordan claim while backing his former teammate Bryant in the GOAT conversation.

"I pick Mike," he said on The Big Podcast with Shaq. "Played with Kobe, played with LeBron - both extraordinarily great, but Mike was that guy. To me, Mike is the greatest of all time. But I just hear people go straight from Mike to LeBron and no Kobe."