Compassion Mounts For Kobe Bryant As Fans Blast Shaquille O’Neal For Wrongly Defending Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Butler is a hot topic right now and it seems Shaquille O’Neal was not cautious enough handling it. As most fans would know, the 6x All-Star recently faced a 2-game suspension for reportedly missing a team flight following his 7-game suspension earlier for conduct that was said to be detrimental to the team. And when Shaq got to discussing him on Inside the NBA, fans rather recalled why his mentality would’ve clashed with Kobe Bryant.

Shaq, known for his unfiltered opinions, defended Butler’s actions. He stated he knows exactly how Jimmy feels as he has been in similar situations multiple times. O’Neal said. “All I’ve done for you guys, and you don’t wanna give me an extension? So, now human nature kicks in. You don’t want me? I don’t want you,” he said.

But then Charles Barkley stepped in, and let’s be honest – who doesn’t love a good Shaq and Chuck debate? The former Philadelphia 76ers star challenged Shaquille O’Neal, insisting Butler still needed to act professionally. Shaq, however, wasn’t having it.

He argued that the 6x All-Star from the Miami Heat should ask for more money. And when Barkley stated he wouldn’t be getting any, Big Diesel’s response was something that seemed to have struck a nerve among the fans on Instagram. “Okay, so guess what? You don’t want me? I don’t want to be here,” O’Neal said.

Fans were quick enough to bash Big Diesel for his mentality comparing it to that of Kobe Bryant.

Kobe Bryant fans put Shaquille O’Neal’s mentality under criticism for his Butler take

“This why Kobe had issues with Shaq not trying ur best no matter what,” one IG user commented, summing up a sentiment that has been echoed for years. Think about it—Shaq was known for showing up to training camp out of shape and playing his way into fitness as the season went on.

While that might work for some, it was the exact opposite of LA Lakers icon’s all-or-nothing approach to the game. No wonder another IG user wrote in the comments, “Team Kobe! That’s why Kobe was always right.” And we know Black Mamba didn’t lack or could stand those who lacked in their work ethic. This was perfectly captured in another fan’s blunt response.

“Trash mentality from Shaq. Shows why Kobe never respected his work ethic,” he wrote. And let’s be honest, the tension between the two legends wasn’t exactly a secret. Kobe himself once hinted at this frustration during an interview with The New Yorker, where he criticized Shaq’s lack of conditioning. And fans clearly haven’t forgotten either.

While most fans were bashing O’Neal for having a poor work ethic, one even claimed it cost Black Mamba, too. “This Why My Kobe Didn’t Get 6 Rings,” he wrote. Something Kobe Bryant might have believed too. In a now-famous interview, he once said, “I woulda had f–king 12 rings” if Shaq had taken his conditioning more seriously. All-in-all, a significant segment of fans are not siding with Shaquille O’Neal’s laid-back approach advise for Butler.