NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal recently opened up on Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis. Shaq believes that he can motivate the star centers that came after him to reach a new level of greatness. He has recently challenged Davis.
Shaq sends message to Anthony Davis
Speaking about Davis on The Big Podcast With Shaq, O’Neal addressed his recent criticism of AD and his summation that the eight-time All-Star had declined. Known to stand firm on his opinions, the big fella not only refused to back down, but he doubled down on it.
“Then my plan is working,” says Shaq when met with the reality of AD’s recent play.
“He’s still top-10. He’s still a great player. But I’m talking about status-wise; I remember we were saying, ‘He’s the best player in the league.’”
Davis has been one of the most talented players in the league for the past decade and O’Neal is certainly not wrong about the expectations for Davis. When LeBron James joined the Lakers, it’s interesting to note that James believed AD could become not only the best player on the team but the best player in the league.
Hampers and inconsistent physicality, which truly could go hand-in-hand, have diminished those expectations. Davis now finds himself as the butt of plenty of jokes rather than the perennial All-Star placed on a pedestal and looked at as the best players in the league.
To Shaq, the circumstances of the past don’t matter. All that matters is what AD is now, and what he can be in the future.
“No excuses in this league. Don’t matter why you fell off. You still fell off,” Shaq says. g“Everything is up to AD.”
