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'I’m Only 7′1”: Shaquille O’Neal Concedes He Can't Match Victor Wembanyama Even with Stephen Curry's Skills
Shaquille O’Neal admits he can't match up to Victor Wembanyama, even with Stephen Curry's skills. His candid reflection sheds light on the rising star's impact. Read more
Unparalleled was Shaquille O'Neal's dominance in the NBA. With an imposing stature of 7 feet 1 inch and over 300 pounds, he blended strength, agility, and aptitude to reign supreme in the league.
O'Neal bagged four NBA championships, secured three NBA Finals MVP awards, and emerged a 15-time NBA All-Star. He left a profound impact that reshaped the game, compelling teams to adjust their tactics.
Despite encountering stiff competition, O'Neal's physical prowess and scoring knack rendered him a formidable force, carving him a niche among the all-time basketball greats.
In the face of such triumph, O'Neal acknowledges that Wemby is already surpassing him, a fact that, he believes, would remain unchanged even if he achieved perfection in his notable weak point.
Free-throw shooting was a well-documented struggle for Shaquille O'Neal, with some even labeling him among the worst free-throw shooters. In a conversation on NBA TNT, O'Neal mused about the different trajectory his career could have taken if he had possessed Stephen Curry’s shooting prowess.
One panelist suggested that he could have been Wemby in that case, but the 4x NBA champion disagreed. “Oh no. Wemby’s 7’5″, I’m only 7′ 1,” the former Los Angeles Lakers superstar contended.
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Wembanyama Shines, Surpasses Shaq's Rookie Records
Victor Wembanyama has made history as the first rookie since Shaq in 1993 to rack up over 40 points and more than 20 rebounds in a single match. Moreover, he's the first to accumulate 85 points, 35 rebounds, and 10 blocks in his first five NBA games since Shaq in 1992.
Wembanyama isn't just meeting Shaq's standards, but in specific areas, he's even outperforming him. For instance, Wembanyama has already outclassed about 86 percent of all NBA rookies in terms of rebounding.
He's also accomplished the extraordinary feat of dunking his three-point attempt – something not even Shaq could achieve. This shows the truth in Shaq's own words: that even if he had shooting skills, Wembanyama's size provided him an advantage.
Yet, Victor has a considerable journey ahead to reach Shaq's legendary status. Wembanyama still needs to clinch the Rookie of the Year award to match Shaq's first-season record, a trophy he is currently well-positioned to claim.
Despite surpassing 86 percent of all rookie players in rebound stats, Shaq is not included in that group. While Wembanyama has averaged 10.5 rebounds per game this season, Shaq outperformed by averaging 13.9 rebounds during his 1992-93 season.
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