Shaquille O’Neal Drops Massive Praise on Young Heat Star Touted as Next Shaq: ‘He’s Killing Joel Embiid Right Now’

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.

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.”

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.

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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

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.

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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