LeBron James & Shaquille O’Neal Blamed for “PTSD” of Ex Chicago Bulls Star

Imagine stepping on an NBA court only to find yourself face-to-face with a 7-foot-1, 325-pound force of nature or a 6-foot-9 athletic marvel who moves with the grace of a guard but hits like a freight train. For many NBA players, this wasn’t an imagination but a recurring nightmare named Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James. From Shaq literally breaking backboards and forcing the NBA to strengthen their hoops, to LeBron’s chase-down blocks, their impact went and continues to go beyond traditional statistics. Now a former Chicago Bulls center has added his name to the long list of stars who’ve been traumatized by these basketball behemoths.

In the recent episode of ‘All the Smoke’ podcast, Joakim Noah was asked about the battles he faced against the NBA standouts and the 39-year-old was still hesitant to remember his feared past. According to him, he was lucky that he faced Shaq in the later part of his career when the seven-footer was with the Cleveland Cavaliers but got pissed when he faced the seven-footer’s teammate LeBron James.

“You Got Shaq in there [Cleveland Cavaliers], I was you know, going head to head with Shaq, thank got it was older Shaq… LeBron was so talented and so good sometimes I felt like it was you he would get he would start dancing and it would just like piss me off, you know what I’m saying. Like I’m trying to win it never happened, I’m still processing [how to win],” said Noah during the podcast with Matt Barnes stating his experience as, “PTSD.”

The former NBA center in a 13-year career faced LeBron James in the playoffs four times in the years 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2020 but was defeated by James’ team every year. Moreover, Noah was not only defeated but James even cliched the championships every time they met during the playoffs, which was enough to become a trauma for the center. However, even though Noah didn’t play against Shaq for a long time, it can be speculated that his fear of facing the seven-footer started because he was a rookie in the league and was still finding his footing on the court.

During Noah’s whole tenure, James had won numerous accolades, including four rings, 4 Final MVPs, 4 NBA MVP titles, and 23 ALL NBA appearances. Even though the former Chicago Bulls player was his rival and in the past had called him out many times, this time he couldn’t stop himself from lauding James. “You’ve gotta give the guy his flowers,” said Noah during the podcast.

As we reflect on the careers of O’Neal and James, Noah’s comments add another layer to their legacy. Beyond the championships, MVP awards, and countless highlights, their ability to instill fear and respect in their opponents, even years after encounters, truly sets them apart as two of the most dominant forces the NBA has ever seen. However, even though Noah had positive words for James in this podcast episode, this was not the same case every time.

Joakim Noah reveals his hate LeBron James

The 2x All-Star may have recently praised LeBron James for his longevity in the game, being able to play by the side of his son, and also for his playing skills, but his respect for the player is inconsistent. Back in April, during a segment of ‘The OG Podcast’, the former Chicago Bulls center called out the Los Angeles Lakers standout.

Joakim Noah expressed his frustration with the small forward’s on-court demeanor which was often characterized as overly confident and even condescending. “People have to understand that it had nothing to do with Cleveland. It had everything to do with LeBron James! Every year you’re losing, you know you have to get through him. That’s where it came from, like, LeBron was so good, he was stunting on us. He was stunting on us. He over here dancing before the game. I see this sh-t, this sh-t drove me fu–ng nuts! So I had to let them know,” remembered Noah during the podcast.

The player’s comments offer a rare glimpse into the competitive dynamics of the NBA, where even among the league’s elite, personal rivalries and disagreements can arise. While James is admired for his skills and achievements, this revelation highlights the complex relationship among athletes. But there is no denying that a presence like Shaq and Bron is rare to come by.