Did Shaquille O’Neal go too far in criticizing modern-day centers like Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren?
Widely considered the most dominant force in NBA history, O’Neal was nearly impossible to guard in his prime. But while he ruled the league in the 1990s and 2000s, today’s game looks a lot different, and so does the center position. Asked recently how Wembanyama and Holmgren would fare against him, O’Neal gave his usual unfiltered take.
Shaquille O’Neal Calls Out Young NBA Centers for Shooting ‘Funky’ Jumpers
The modern NBA heavily emphasizes three-point shooting. Centers now space the floor, shoot off the dribble, and play more finesse ball than bruiser ball. But O’Neal isn’t impressed. In fact, he sees it as a weakness.
Although O’Neal likely already knew about that, he has stuck with his perspective that the modern-day centers are eager to shoot jumpers. O’Neal took things a step further and claimed that the shooting implied that centers like Wembanyama and Holmgren were scared of physicality and couldn’t handle it.
He went into a small monologue when asked if the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City stars would change the DNA of centers in the league and how much they matter in the modern era.
“No, and I hate putting myself forward in time, but I will make both them motherf****** quit. … Oh yeah, imma back his [Wembanyama] a** up and elbow right into his motherf****** mouth.
“You know what they gonna do all night? Shoot them motherf*****g 3s, and if you miss, Imma run by you and go to the post, and you gonna be f****** screaming, ‘Three seconds, three seconds.’ I’ll make the motherf***** quit. To me, any guy that’s 7’4″, 7’5″ that shoot jumpers, they don’t want that funk.”
Shaq on Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren:
“I will make both them motherf******s quit.” 😳 pic.twitter.com/1eTbm76YRW
— The Big Podcast (@bigpodwithshaq) April 6, 2025
O’Neal continued with no hesitation: “Cause if I’m 7’4″, I’m trying to make everything easy. … You wanna shoot 3s and doing so? OK … I will make all the motherf****** quit. … The first play of the game, I’m gonna knock you motherf****** teeth out because I know you are not going to fight.”
Sure, O’Neal would be a nightmare matchup physically, even against taller players like Wembanyama. But his attitude toward today’s game and players seems stuck in the past. There’s also the reality that, in today’s NBA, throwing elbows is more likely to get you ejected than to intimidate anyone.
Even if players like Wembanyama are seen as “soft” by old-school standards, they might not hesitate to retaliate if they were getting cheap-shotted. O’Neal might think he’s sending a message, but in the modern NBA, that message comes with fines, suspensions, and teammates stepping in.
O’Neal critiques, whether genuine or performative, remind fans just how wide the gap is between eras and how difficult it is for legends to let the next wave be great in their own way.