“I Wish I Could Step Out and Shoot the 3”- Jealous Shaquille O’Neal Explains Why He’s the ‘Black Steph Curry’

Jealous Shaquille O’Neal Explains Why He’s the ‘Black Steph Curry’
Shaquille O’Neal (Image Source: YouTube)
Many believe Shaquille O’Neal was the most dominant big player in NBA history. His Hall of Fame career supported that assessment, and he has enthusiastically accepted the distinction. When Shaq was in the paint during his best years in the league, he was a one-man wrecking crew.

Though he was formidable on the court, the 7-foot-1, 325-pound monster wished he could play the game differently. He’s added another championship to his résumé many times. Shaquille O’Neal identifies as “Black Steph Curry.”


Shaq earned himself that moniker, but he revealed on “The Draymond Green Show” why the difference is so evident: “I wish I could step out and shoot the 3, brother. You know why I call myself the black Steph Curry? Because if I go to the gym and miss 190 f**king 3s and make one, I’m the black Steph Curry. That s**t feel good, to step out there and shoot the 3, bro.“

Shaquille O’Neal added: “I’m jealous of them because I wish I was allowed to do that. Embiid is a mixture of me in the post and Hakeem Olajuwon outside the post. And Joker? I was thinking a little Brad Daugherty, a little Sabonis ‘84. His game is just nice. Wembanyama is different. He is thin but he does stuff. … I really like those three guys.”

Shaquille O’Neal’s Take on Playing Three Centers in a Team

The legendary LA Lakers player and the point guard for the Golden State Warriors are entirely different players. Curry wins by draining threes, but Shaquille O’Neal bludgeons opponents into submission.

 

Shaquille O’Neal continued, saying he would have evolved into a modern big man if he had continued to play in the NBA today. He mentioned three players whose work he liked.

Embiid, Jokic, and Wembanyama are among the top three centers in the NBA. The first two have won the NBA MVP trophy in three of the last four years. If he stays healthy, Wemby, who is only getting started, has the most excellent mantle of all time ahead of him.

Their ability to hit from behind the arc is one of the things that draws people to their game. When Shaquille O’Neal was at his best, he said his coaches would go “crazy” if he did the same.