The Los Angeles Lakers just made a move that sent shockwaves through the NBA. In what could go down as the biggest trade of the decade, they swapped Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic, instantly reshaping the franchise.
With LeBron James and Doncic now sharing the court, the Lakers are once again title favorites, despite the unexpected reversal of their trade for center Mark Williams. And with championship expectations sky-high in L.A., one Lakers legend knows exactly what it’s like to step into the pressure cooker as a young superstar.
Four-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, who joined the Lakers as a 25-year-old in 1996, had some blunt but valuable advice for Doncic as he prepares to wear the purple and gold.
On The Big Podcast with Shaq, co-host Adam Lefkoe asked what message O’Neal would give to the Slovenian superstar. Shaq didn’t hold back.
“I would tell him M.E.S.T.F.U. — Make ‘Em Shut the F— Up,” O’Neal said.
He explained that this motto came from his mother, Lucille O’Neal, who always encouraged him to find the truth in criticism rather than letting it get to him.
“My mother, who’s a very wise woman, told me this because I used to go crazy from criticism,” Shaq shared. “But she always used to say, ‘See if there’s some truth inside the criticism before you go off.’”
The BIG Podcast with SHAQ
As someone who spent years under the microscope in L.A., Shaq understands the unique pressure that comes with being a Lakers star. He also praised Doncic for the way he’s handled scrutiny throughout his career.
“I commend him for being super classy because he’s a better man than I am,” O’Neal said. “Get right, get healthy, and just take over.”
On his recent Big Podcast With Shaq, O’Neal also talked about the possibility of other big (or huge) name stars making a deal to play for the Lakers. How does this one sound: Giannis Antetokounmpo, currently the superstar of the Milwaukee Bucks?
No joke – Shaq thinks it could happen, saying, “The future is definitely bright for LA. They have a big name player and I don’t know how many years LeBron lives, but when they get out of that, a lot of people are going to want to come play with Luka, including Giannis.”
Was the big fella just kidding? No way. Later in the podcast, Shaq doubled down on the Giannis claims, also name-checking Zion Williamson, saying, “Come on down in LA. Giannis is coming up. Zion is coming up.”
No matter what big names are added to the roster in the coming months, the Lakers certainly hope Doncic will be back on the court soon. Before his injury sidelined him on Christmas Day, the 25-year-old was putting up MVP-caliber numbers—averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. If he can return to his league-leading 33.9 points per game form from last season, the Lakers might just have their next great championship duo.