“If I’m Not No.1..”: Shaquille O’Neal Remembers Strict Father’s Stern Words, Cutting Himself Off NBA Veteran’s List

Shaquille O’Neal understands his value. He understood it during his NBA career and always acted accordingly. The Los Angeles Lakers legend’s performances led him to the top five All-Time lists of many people. But maybe the seven-foot giant doesn’t really prefer to be on those lists after all. In his recent podcast, Shaq wasn’t really ecstatic when an NBA veteran named him on one of his All-Time great players’ lists. Shaq stressed the fact that he would like to be in some other category, where he has rightfully earned his place.

While sitting down with Jamal Crawford, Shaq couldn’t digest being called one of the best in the game. He would rather be called the most dominant player of the game. The Big Diesel explained how his father’s stern teachings have contributed to this mindset.

Shaquille O’Neal stops Jamal Crawford from calling him one of the best in the game

The seven-foot legend prefers a lot of names, but doesn’t like to be associated with the ‘GOAT’ discussion. In the recent edition of The Big Podcast, Shaq stopped Crawford mid-sentence to reiterate his position in basketball history. ‘The most dominant player in NBA history’ is what Shaq would like to be called. The title may entail a very unique category with very few candidates, but Shaq doesn’t mind. What he does mind, is not being the best in his category as his father’s teaching didn’t allow him to be that.

“If I’m not the number one guy don’t bring my name up.” said Shaq, during the podcast. He further added, “Listen to what I’m telling you all, you know what green berets are. That’s how I was trained. Okay. I’m not soft. My father from little kid ‘if you ain’t number one, I don’t want to hear it’ I have my own category, like we all got a different category like him [points at Crawford]. Top, two in the best handles ever. Top Two! Like me one of the most dominant. That’s my category“

The Lakers legend was adamant that he only wanted to be in one conversation and that was being the most dominant. Although The Big Aristotle likes to be called the most dominant, he still believes one person would always be above, Wilt Chamberlain.

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The four-time NBA Champion isn’t the only one who’s a fan of Chamberlain, as many players still consider him the most dominant.

NBA players on the legendary status of Wilt Chamberlain

Many players agree with Shaq’s assessment of the Philadelphia 76ers legend. Chamberlain’s opponents are included in that list, as Earl Monroe said he “idolized” the legend.

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Billy Cunningham, his teammate in the 76ers once narrated how Chamberlain averaged 60 pts for three games to shut his critics up. Magic Johnson, the Lakers legend also mentioned how there’d be “nobody like him“.