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CHICAGO – APRIL 24: (L-R) Antoine Walker #8, Shaquille O’Neal #32 and Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat sit on the bench in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bulls in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2007 NBA Playoffs at the United Center on April 24, 2007 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls won 107-89. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO – APRIL 24: (L-R) Antoine Walker #8, Shaquille O’Neal #32 and Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat sit on the bench in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bulls in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2007 NBA Playoffs at the United Center on April 24, 2007 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls won 107-89. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Like many NBA greats, basketball fans keep comparing a few current players to Shaquille O’Neal. But it is not very often that legends accept the comparisons and shower praises on younger NBA players. Notably, O’Neal played for many franchises during his 19-year NBA career. Recently, the 49-YO reserved high praise for a young star.
Shaq lauded Omer Yurtseven during the Miami Heat’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. While speaking to a reporter during an in game interview, O’Neal pointed out how Yurtseven dominated the 76ers’ talisman, Joel Embiid, throughout the game. The legend further complimented Yurtseven’s play style.
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O’Neal questioned the reporter, asking him, “Who is 77?” The reporter replied, “Omer Yurtseven, man.” The 4x NBA Champion then praised Yurtseven, saying, “I like the kid, plays a lot of hard. He is killing Joel Embiid right now. Never seen him before, but I like the way he plays. I like the way he’s playing, and now they look pretty good.”
.@SHAQ's a big Yurt fan… we are too 🙌 pic.twitter.com/UCjQLxSL5p
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 16, 2022
Omer Yurtseven started his NBA career with the Miami Heat in 2021. He played for the Heat in the NBA Summer League in August, 2021. The seven foot Turkish center has previously played for Fenerbahce, a professional basketball team in Turkey, and won the Turkish Super League in 2016.
O’Neal played for the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers in his early NBA career. He won three NBA titles with the Lakers. Then, the dominating center won his fourth title with the Miami Heat, with Heat fans still regarding O’Neal as a legend of the franchise.
Shaquille O’Neal and his career at the Miami Heat
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Shaquille O’Neal moved to the Miami Heat in 2004 after a long drawn battle of disagreements with Kobe Bryant at the Los Angeles Lakers. His first season at the Heat witnessed him lose out the NBA MVP award to Steve Nash in a close fought vote. O’Neal’s 2004-06 seasons marked him finishing as the league leader in field goal percentage.
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DALLAS – JUNE 20: Series MVP Dwyane Wade #3 and Shaquille O’Neal #32 of the Miami Heat celebrate together after the Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks in game six of the 2006 NBA Finals on June 20, 2006 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The Heat won 95-92 and win the series 4-2. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Big Shamrock led the Heat to the 2006 NBA Finals against Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavericks. O’Neal averaged 13.7 points and 10.2 rebounds for the series. With the help of Dwyane Wade and a few other stars, O’Neal guided the Heat to their first NBA title.
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Did you like Miami Heat’s Shaq more than Lakers’ Shaq? Help us know in the comments.
