Michael Jordan had the chance to evolve with exceptional teammates, including Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. But obviously that wasn’t enough for him. In a 2005 interview, he praised Shaquille O’Neal, imagining an association between them.
When you think of the most dominant players in history, several names immediately come to mind, starting with that of Shaquille O’Neal. The Diesel, thanks to his extraordinary physique and his exceptional athletic qualities, quickly established himself as a legend despite an ultimately “little” track record provided. His one and only MVP title passes for an anomaly.
In another register, Michael Jordan was also very impressive. In more than 75 years of existence, the NBA has never known a man so determined to win and outrun the competition. The legendary No. 23 participated in the Finals 6 times, for 6 wins and 6 MVP trophies, which is to say if he was above the competition.
Michael Jordan’s confession to Shaquille O’Neal
Because he was so strong and so dominant, MJ knew how to recognize players of the same caliber as him. So in an interview granted in 2005, he paid the greatest compliment to Shaquille O’Neal. Not only did he not understand the Lakers’ choice to trade him, but he explained that with such a player at his side, he could have had a much longer career:
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If I was the Lakers, I would never have gotten rid of Shaquille O’Neal. It’s that simple. They have won 3 titles with this pivot, and interiors like him are not easy to find. And besides, when you have the most dominant player in the league, you don’t trade him because you have some problems in the locker room.
You can’t put the blame on a single player when things don’t work in a franchise. The blame is shared between him and Kobe. When you’re as successful as the Lakers, you have to find a way to manage your locker room so that everyone can thrive, so that everyone maintains their image of champion. Give me Shaquille O’Neal, and I’ll still be on the court today.
Michael Jordan couldn’t understand how the Lakers could have traded a Shaquille O’Neal still at the top of his game, only because he didn’t get along well with Kobe Bryant. Moreover, he did not hesitate to affirm his jealousy vis-à-vis the Mamba, since he too would have liked to play with such a dominant interior.
Shaquille O’Neal and Michael Jordan on the same team wouldn’t have been fair for competition. Luckily for the rest of the NBA, the No. 23 never had the opportunity to play with such a big interior.
2023-08-02 21:00:00
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