With a career that went from the hardwood floor to the broadcasting booth, Shaquille O’Neal knows what he’s talking about. Many can testify that his commentary is no-holds-barred. Mere hours before he was back to serve hard-hitting analysis laced with unrestrained ribbing, he made sure everyone knew what to expect. That start of the NBA season means Shaq&Co. on Inside the NBA aren’t going to be gentle on the NBA pros.

This isn’t the first time he’s touched on the current players’ temperament when it comes to analysts. Irrespective of how they feel, O’Neal is going to say it like it is.

Shaquille O’Neal touches a sensitive nerve

Tom Brady and Larry Fitzgerald brought Shaquille O’Neal on their podcast, ‘Let’s Go!’ right before the retired NBA pro would be caught up in the busy NBA season. O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith, and Ernie Johnson are back in the TNT studio to cover the 2023-24 NBA season. They’re going to be unrestrained as usual, whether the players like it or not.

It was the subject of turning criticism into motivation that was the running theme of this episode. As he has said several times before, Shaq has a problem with the current NBA crop’s attitudes. “All these kids are not having fun, but my question to them is, ‘Who the hell are you listening to?'” 

O’Neal is referring to his past observations that the NBA has become a soft space for players who don’t accept criticism from analysts. “Like when I give my criticism on NBA on TNT and these guys get sensitive, I have to remind them I do know what I’m talking about.” 

It is true. Big Diesel came off a spectacular 19-season career with four championships before retiring in 2011 and making a swift transition to Inside the NBA. He’s dealt with his fair share of criticism within the media as well. He brought up his made-up “G-14 classification” derived from the Kevin Hart-Jackie Chan blockbuster, Rush Hour, about players like himself who have the resume to back what they’re talking about.

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Shaq repeats this commentary so players would improve. “If they could turn their criticism into motivation in their favor, I think it’ll fly in the long run.” It is sound advice from someone who has been on both sides of the criticism.

After chatting with Tom Brady, Shaq was down to business with the first NBA game of the new season. As he forewarned, the Inside Guys were harsh.

Charles Barkley echoes Shaq’s sentiment

Much like his nemesis said, Charles Barkley was not holding punches as soon as the NBA season started. He went on a rant about players moaning about injuries already. “If you’re making $30M, $40M, $50M to play basketball four days a week,” he said while also listing the facilities teams provide, he added, “Man, if you can play, shut the hell up and play.”

This is another case proving that legends-turned-analysts like Barkley and O’Neal will hold the players to the same standards they were once held to. They, like fans, want to watch the best NBA game regardless of the results. Shaq and Chuck’s advice is pretty relevant if the NBA pros do heed them. What do you think about their analysis?

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