Shaquille O’Neal Makes Intriguing Michael Jordan Analogy to Warn Trae Young of Stardom Intricacies

Entering the NBA with the promise of becoming a superstar, Trae Young has indeed lived up to that potential over the years. He has delivered plenty of stellar performances, both in regular-season clashes and high-stakes playoff matchups. In the current season, he continues to shine and improve on his caliber. Currently, he is securing the 8th spot among the top scorers in the league with 27.2 points per game. Additionally, he ranks second in the league with 10.9 assists.

Moreover, Trae is one of the leaders in the All-Star voting, echoing his supremacy in the 2023-24 season. However, despite his individual achievements, Young harbors a burning desire to clinch an NBA championship. With the checkpoint yet to be achieved, 4-time champion Shaquille O’Neal showered him with plenty of advice.

Shaquille O’Neal advises Trae Young to be championship-ready

During an exclusive interview with Bleachers Report, Shaq was asked about the switch he had to make to be championship-ready. The question came in light of his 5-year buffer between in first Finals appearance and first championship. O’Neal immediately emphasized the leadership role and advised Trae, “When you’re the best guy, everything falls back on you.” Young gently nodded as Shaq continued, “So my advice to him is to make sure he’s always ready, make sure he gets his guys ready.”

In a reflective moment, Shaq took responsibility for his first NBA Finals loss. Initially acknowledging his fearless mindset against Michael Jordan, Shaq applauded his team’s win over the Chicago Bulls. However, he then radiated that the team celebrated too early after the Conference Finals win.

This lapse in focus, he admitted, contributed to his downfall against Hakeem Olajuwon in the finals, marking a pivotal turning point in the series and a huge lesson.

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Shaq has Young in his top young players

Throughout the years, Shaq has become known for making some of the most peculiar statements that leave fans scratching their heads. When he recently listed his top young players in the current NBA landscape, he once again took an unconventional route. Straying away from the more expected names like Jayson Tatum and Luka Doncic, Shaq’s 7-man roster featured Zion Williamson, Victor Wembanyama, Trae Young, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Alperen Sengun.

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While Shaquille O’Neal undoubtedly possesses a deep understanding of basketball and the qualities needed for success in the NBA, his decision to overlook some of the emerging talents in the league adds an intriguing twist to his choices.