Shaquille O’Neal isn’t entirely sold on Victor Wembanyama’s dominance in the NBA. His latest critique questions whether Wemby’s shooting style can truly make him a dominant force in the NBA akin to legends like Wilt Chamberlain. While Wembanyama’s towering height makes him one of the most physically impressive players in the league, O’Neal argued that height alone doesn’t equate to dominance.

Wembanyama, who notably has a 7’9″ wingspan, has made a remarkable impact in his rookie season with the Spurs. He lived up to the pre-season hype by becoming the seventh player in NBA history to be unanimously selected as Rookie of the Year (ROTY). He was also the first rookie to be named to the All-Defensive First Team and finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) race. He led the NBA in blocks, recording 254 blocks in 71 games. Additionally, he also posted least 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals per game.

However, like the 7″1′  ex-center pointed out on The PatMcAfeeShow, “Wemby is a great player, but I don’t really think you can be dominant when you shoot jumpers a lot,” he said before adding, “I think if he was an inside player at 7’5″, the answer is yes, but when you shoot jumpers, you’re always going to go up and down. Coach will tell you that.” Looking at the numbers, Wembanyama’s scoring efficiency has indeed been somewhat of an issue during his rookie season!

Wembanyama connects on 74.3% within three feet of the basket. On the other hand, when it comes to triples, the number comes down to just 30.1%, 35.3% on shots from 16 feet and to the 3-point line, and sits uncomfortably low in the 3-10 feet area at 43.6% accuracy. And, in the 3-10 feet area? A 43.6% accuracy. His other downside, according to many, has been his injury-prone physique—though we’ve yet to see that cause a dent. And now, add to that, Shaq’s opinion and the 20-year-old will have to be extra careful!

These raises another important question: If shooting isn’t enough, what exactly does Shaq consider being true dominance?

Shaq defines true dominance—and uses himself as the example

Shaq’s definition of dominance is rooted in fear and rule changes. “Mine was, we’re terrified of him. We have to change the rules for him. Nothing we can do can stop him. We’re going to bring in extra players to stop them and you have to be consistent with all those things at least 5, 6, 7 years,” he explained. During his prime, few players dared to challenge O’Neal directly.

Standing 7″1′ and weighing between 325 and 350 pounds in his prime, Big Diesel’s sheer size and strength made him a physical force. His combination of size, power, and athleticism often gave him an automatic advantage over his opponents.

Interestingly enough, Shaq invoked another dominant 7-footer to make his point: Wilt Chamberlain. “When you talking about the most dominant, there’s only one or two players. And I wanted to pass Wilt Chamberlain up so bad because I was gonna arrogantly say ‘I’m the most dominant m———-r!’ … he has more points than me, I got more championships. So, Wilt-Shaq, I don’t mind.” 

Clearly, Shaq’s standards for dominance are clear. While Wembanyama’s height makes him a challenge for defenders, it’s hard to call him physically imposing in the way Shaq was. Still, Wembanyama is just getting started. If he continues to improve at the pace, he did in his rookie season, it won’t be long before he becomes a dominant force in his own right.

Considering the Spurs’ preference for homegrown talents, it’s a given that there won’t be any deal that sees Wemby on the trade block. And with San Antonio doing everything in its power to get their flagship player all the help, the ‘Big Diesel’ might just have to add Wemby to the above list.

Thoughts?