For months, a familiar refrain has echoed across NBA circles: the big man is back. With dominant seven-footers putting up gaudy stat lines and stuffing highlight reels, many believe the league has gradually returned to its interior roots. But one of the most imposing centers in basketball history isn’t buying it.
Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal delivered a blunt rebuttal to this growing narrative. He’s making it clear that, in his eyes, true centers are still a rare breed, barring two in the league.
Shaquille O’Neal Dismisses Modern Big Man Narrative
Appearing on Unsportsmanship, O’Neal dismissed the idea that today’s NBA has revived the traditional center position. “Stop it, the big man is not back,” O’Neal said. “Because nobody posts up. Just because you’re seven-foot and shooting jumpers, that does not make you a big man.”
Instead, he narrowed the list down to just two players: Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama.
“Jokić is the only guy that I would consider a big man, and Wemby, that’s two,” O’Neal continued. “But I remember when every team had a center. So now you just got a bunch of guys running in the same place, picking and popping.”
For O’Neal, the defining trait isn’t height. Rather, it’s dominance in the paint. He later emphasized the importance of “playing the percentages,” arguing that size should translate into high-efficiency shots near the rim rather than perimeter jumpers.
“If I’m seven foot, 300 pounds, and I’m bigger and stronger than everybody, I want the high-percentage shot,” he said. “If I’m seven-five, I’m not pick-and-pop shooting jumpers over guys six-one, six-two.”
Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama Back Up the Claim
While O’Neal insists the archetype hasn’t fully returned, the two players he endorsed are producing historic numbers.
Jokić is averaging 28.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 10.7 assists in 39 games this season. He’s continuing to redefine offensive orchestration from the center position. The Denver star has turned triple-doubles into routine performances, operating as both primary scorer and playmaker.
Wembanyama, meanwhile, is averaging 24.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 40 games this season after posting 21.4 points and 10.6 rebounds during his Rookie of the Year campaign in 2023-24.
Their head-to-head battles have been must-watch. In six career matchups against Jokić, Wembanyama has averaged 25.2 points and 14.7 rebounds. Jokic, however, has responded with 36.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 8.5 assists in those same contests.
The debate ultimately centers on definition. Jokic stretches defenses with passing wizardry. Wembanyama blocks shots at an elite rate while launching threes off the dribble. Neither mirrors O’Neal’s bruising, low-post dominance, yet both bend the game around their size.
For O’Neal, the distinction matters. Dominance inside the paint, not versatility outside it, defines a true big man.
The numbers suggest today’s centers are evolving. But if you ask Shaq, evolution isn’t the same as a comeback.
