What else is there to do while waiting for the world-wide health situation to improve… and the re-start of the NBA season? Make lists, of course! Shaq is on yet another Top Ten list…this one from a popular social media influencer in the basketball arena (see what we did there?)
The list is from the popular Instagram account “NBAChemistry” and has been shared on several basketball blogs (Tip ‘o the hat to ClutchPoints.com for putting this story in front of us here at ShaqFu Radio…)
It’s hard to argue with any of the superstars appearing on the list. The big discussions will most likely be about the actual rankings…where the stars appear on the list. Who’s in front of who, and who’s behind?
So probably no surprise – Michael Jordan is number one. His status as the GOAT has been challenged a bit in recent years by LeBron James, but the jury is still very much out on the long-term impact LeBron has on the game. Still, LeBron is number 2 on the list (at least for now).
Interestingly, of the top 10 of all time, five are / were Los Angeles Lakers. Let’s cut to the chase: O’Neal is number eight on the list. More of his own comment on the ranking in a moment. As for the Lakers on the list, in order of appearance, they are: LeBron (#2), Kobe Bryant (#6), Magic Johnson (#7), Shaq (#8), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (#9). The rest of the list; Jordan (#1), Hakeem Olajuwon (#3), Larry Bird (#4), Tim Duncan (#5), then all those Lakers – including Shaq – and finally Bill Russell (#10).
As for O’Neal, he went on social media to offer a little personal insight, and to say that maybe – just maybe – he was ranked a little too highly on the list. took a high road approach in reacting to the list, not only acknowledging its validity but also saying that perhaps he was ranked too highly on the list.
Shaq wrote that he was cool with the list, but offered that he would have put superstars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell — ranked ninth and tenth, respectively — above him. That’s a nice dose of modesty and understanding of the game’s history from Shaq… appreciating two of the very best who played the game long before he even took the floor.
As for the list itself? Well, like we said, it’s probably going to start a few (long distance) discussions and perhaps even heated arguments. Kobe at number six? With all the remembrances and thoughts of Kobe after his tragic death earlier this year, some would probably want him ranked higher.
And how about Olajuwon? Sure, he’s a two-time NBA champ, but as ClutchPoints wrote, it’s not often he’s listed in “anyone’s top 3.”