A recent feud between Shaquille O’Neal and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo has emerged in the media. The dispute began when Russo claimed on TV that Shaq was the fifth-best center in NBA history, which greatly upset O’Neal.
Russo continued to provoke Shaq by stating that Nikola Jokic is already a better all-time player than Shaq, Moses Malone, and Hakeem Olajuwon. This claim shocked sports analysts Domonique Foxworth and Brian Windhorst on the show First Take.
Mad Dog Russo’s recent claim on First Take has certainly stirred up controversy in the basketball world, as he boldly declared that Nikola Jokic is better than Shaquille O’Neal. Russo’s assertion came amidst his praise for the Denver Nuggets and their standout performances in crucial matchups.
“I’m taking Denver. I love their, their, they, you can tell they have risen to the occasion in big spots. They’ve beaten the Celtics twice. They beat the Lakers in LA when LeBron had the 40,000-point game.”
I saw him play the Warriors about two Saturdays ago in Golden State. They did a tremendous job in the fourth quarter. They beat Miami last night in Miami matchup of course last year in the NBA. I love this team.”
Russo highlighted the Nuggets’ victories over formidable opponents like the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and Miami Heat, emphasizing their ability to excel in high-pressure situations. While acknowledging the greatness of Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, Russo reserved his highest praise for Jokic, even going as far as to suggest that the Serbian center might be the greatest center in NBA history.
“Now they’re not a great historical team. They got two great players. Murray’s great. How he hasn’t made an all-star team is ridiculous. I mean, Jokic might be, might be at the end of the day the greatest center in the history of the NBA.”
“And that’s saying a lot. He might be at the end of his career. He’s that good. He’s better than Shaq. I’ll tell you that right now. Oh, he is. And not just Shaq. I mean he’s better than Malone, Olajuwon. He does everything. He passes, he dribbles. He is great. Jokic is great.”
However, Shaq has expressed his admiration for Jokic in the past, so it would be interesting to know his thoughts on the matter.
Shaquille O’Neal is widely regarded as one of the greatest centers in NBA history, known for his dominance and four NBA titles. On the other hand, Jokic, who has only played nine seasons compared to Shaq’s 19, has already had great success, including an NBA championship and two league MVP titles.
Jokic’s diverse style of play, particularly his exceptional passing ability, sets him apart from Shaq. However, arguing against Shaq’s legacy remains a significant challenge. The feud between Russo and Shaq has further escalated after Russo questioned the worthiness of retiring Shaq’s jersey by the Orlando Magic.
Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal criticized sports commentator Chris Russo, stating that Russo does not have the qualifications to speak about sports. O’Neal explained that individuals like himself and former NFL player Cam Newton have a “G-14” classification due to their experiences playing sports at high levels.
O’Neal specifically called out Russo for his lack of knowledge about quarterbacking and advised him to stick to traditional media. This criticism may have stemmed from Russo ranking O’Neal as the fifth-best center in NBA history, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Wilt Chamberlain, and Hakeem Olajuwon.
Russo’s dig at O’Neal occurred during a discussion about O’Neal’s comment suggesting that Warriors star Steph Curry should be considered the greatest player of all time.
Asked to address Mad Dog’s comments on The Big Pod yesterday, O’Neal responded by asking a very simple question.
“Who is that?” O’Neal asked upon hearing the audio. “Who the f is that?”
Upon receiving some context, O’Neal then revealed where he ranks himself among the NBA’s all-time best big men. (Hint – it’s not No. 5)
“I disagree – however, Kareem, yes. Wilt, only because he has more points than me. That’s the only thing that upsets me about my career… I’ll let that slide.”
“I’m the most dominant center ever, I don’t ever want to hear another name again. So that will put me at No. 3.”
When asked about Russo’s comments, O’Neal initially questioned who Russo was and later disagreed with his ranking, claiming he is the most dominant center ever and should be placed at number three among the best big men in NBA history.
