Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that Shaquille O’Neal is a legend of the NBA. Some even consider him to be the most dominant player ever. Regardless, his greatness was witnessed by fans all over the world as he destroyed his opponents with his strength and quickness.
During his NBA career, Shaq would win four championships and earn an MVP award as well. It is due to his greatness as a player that the ‘Big Aristotle’ is included in the roster of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
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Speaking of the 75th Anniversary Team, there is one another player who is included in the same team and is also Shaq’s co-host in ‘Inside the NBA.’ This is none other than Charles Barkley. Although he never won an NBA title, Barkley has been named a league MVP and has been inducted into the Basketball Hall Of Fame. In light of Barkley’s inclusion in the 75th Anniversary Team, Shaq made a massive, yet funny, claim about Barkley.
Shaquille O’Neal Roasts Charles Barkley
On the last day of the All-Star festivities in Cleveland, the NBA organized a ceremony for the players of the 75th Anniversary Team. All those who were rostered on the team wore jackets with the NBA’s diamond logo on it. In light of this, there would come a moment during the All-Star Game when Shaq destroyed Barkley regarding the reason behind the latter’s inclusion in the 75th Anniversary Team.
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“Chuck, you’re just mad because I earned my jacket, and they gave you yours out of sympathy,” said Shaq.
Clearly, this was yet another funny moment between the two legends. As usual, the two have always engaged in friendly banter, which was great to see even during the All-Star weekend.
Shaq and Chuck in the NBA
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Both Shaq and Chuck enjoyed prolific careers in the NBA. Together, they have amassed over 50,000 points as they dominated the league. In light of the All-Star Weekend, both legends collectively have 26 All-Star appearances and 4 All-Star MVP awards. Moreover, both players are Hall Of Fame inductees as well.
During his career, Shaq was a prolific scorer behind whom the Lakers won 3 titles in a row. Additionally, he was a strong defensive presence and was named in the NBA’s All Defensive Team on 3 occasions. While Shaq has dominated more on the scoring end, Barkley, in comparison, has additionally been a strong rebounder.
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In fact, he led the league in rebounds during the 1986-87 season. It is quite evident that both stars have earned their right to be included in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. And regardless of what Shaq says, Chuck will always be a legend of the game.
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