Shaquille O’Neal doesn’t love what he’s been seeing on the hardwood lately. And during a recent episode of The Big Podcast with guest Roy Wood Jr., he made it crystal clear: the NBA just isn’t what it used to be.
While discussing everything from rule changes to the evolution of player longevity, O’Neal painted a picture of a league that’s softer, less competitive, and in his words, delivering a “s-t” product. He didn’t blame the players entirely, but he made it known that he’s not giving out respect just because someone puts on a jersey.
I’ve seen what greatness is,” O’Neal said. “So you want me to give these motherf-kers the same props you giving them? That s-t will never happen.
Ben Simmons Catches Strays – and Then Some
The conversation eventually turned to players who, in O’Neal’s view, haven’t lived up to the hype – or the paycheck. That’s when he let loose on Clippers guard Ben Simmons in a moment that lit up social media.
“But Ben Simmons [needs] to be f-king arrested,” he said. “$250 [million] for that bulls-t? Get the f-k out of my face. Robbing people, man.”
Simmons, the former No. 1 pick in 2016, has had a rollercoaster of a career. After winning Rookie of the Year and earning three All-Star nods with the Sixers, his trajectory has taken a steep dip. Despite signing a $170 million extension in 2019, he missed all of the 2021-22 season and has since bounced from Brooklyn to L.A., struggling to stay healthy – and relevant.
He’s now appeared in just 17 games for the Clippers this season, averaging 3.6 points and 3.4 assists in just over 17 minutes per game. Not exactly superstar numbers for someone who’s earned over $203 million, according to Spotrac.
Simmons, for his part, seems content with his new chapter. Speaking to The New York Post at the end of March, he said L.A. finally feels like home.
“I never really felt like New York was home for me,” he said. “Being in LA, I feel like me as a person, it’s my kind of scenery or environment.”
But for Shaq? That scenery still looks like a crime scene.
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