Few NBA legends are as synonymous with Los Angeles Lakers greatness as Shaquille O’Neal, so when the Hall of Famer weighs in on the team’s new look, fans and analysts listen closely.
This offseason, the Lakers stunned the league by pulling off major moves, including the acquisition of Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks and the signing of Deandre Ayton to anchor the paint alongside veteran superstar LeBron James.
Yet, despite the excitement around the new core, O’Neal has a clear message for Lakers Nation: star power and size alone are not enough in the modern NBA.
O’Neal says Lakers’ new core still missing elite shooting
Speaking with Casino Beats in an exclusive interview, O’Neal praised the front office for putting together a legitimate championship-caliber roster, but he was blunt about the team’s remaining flaw. “They have a legitimate big now, got two premier players,” O’Neal said. “I’m still worried about the shooting. It’s a three-point league now.”
The Lakers‘ big swings didn’t stop at Doncic. The addition of Ayton gives Los Angeles a dominant presence inside, while veteran guard Marcus Smart was signed to provide leadership and defense on the perimeter. But O’Neal insists that in today’s NBA, true contenders need more than just competent outside shooting-they need players who are automatic from deep.
“Not guys that can shoot, (I’m talking about) bonafide shooters,” Shaq explained. “Guys that are guaranteed, like JJ Redick. He was a bonafide shooter.”
It’s a point backed up by last season’s numbers. The Lakers finished a modest 15th in total three-pointers made and 14th in percentage, a middling performance that was painfully exposed when they fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round of the playoffs.
Playoff ambitions hinge on shooting upgrade
As O’Neal sees it, the Lakers have taken care of their glaring needs for size and superstar play, but unless they address their lack of outside firepower, their postseason ambitions could fall short once again.
“You got two premier players. You got a big guy that can do certain things,” O’Neal said. “Those three players should be able to get you to one through four. If they don’t have home court advantage, I’ll be very disappointed.”
For the three-time Lakers champion, the blueprint for success in the NBA’s current era is simple: no matter how impressive your roster, “bonafide shooters” are the final piece of any title contender.
As the season approaches, all eyes will be on Los Angeles to see if the front office takes O’Neal‘s advice and finds the missing ingredient for a deep playoff run-or if shooting woes will haunt the Lakers when it matters most.
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