“I’m not writing you guys a cheque if guys aren’t going to commit to us for 2-3 years.” Shaquille O’Neal didn’t hold back in voicing his frustration with NIL and the transfer portal. The fact that the college athletes would switch institutes just because of better offers doesn’t sit well with him. According to the ex-Los Angeles Lakers star, a significant concern is the unfairness faced by high school kids.

To Shaq, loyalty in today’s game is vanishing—and fast. And if you’re wondering why that bothers him, it’s not just about tradition. His concern is with the ripple effect—specifically, what this means for high school players trying to make their way into college hoops. On the latest episode of The Big Podcast, the Lakers legend took a step back to explain exactly why he’s so uneasy with where things are headed.

“I feel sorry for the high school kid because… Back in our time, the high school kids were highly sought after,” he shared on the podcast. “But now with everybody going in the transfer portal, you get coaches like Rick Pitino saying, ‘I’m not even looking at high school kids no more. I’m just going in the portal.’ So I kind of, you know, feel sorry for them.”

To be fair, the transfer portal has also revived careers. Just look at players like Baylor Scheierman, who transferred from South Dakota State to Creighton and became a national standout, or Remy Martin, who helped Kansas win a national title after leaving Arizona State. For guys like them, the portal was a lifeline. But what about high school prospects hoping to break in? The runway’s getting shorter

It’s a hard-hitting reality. Why gamble on raw high school talent when the portal is overflowing with ready-made contributors? That’s the dilemma coaches now face. And while we occasionally witness a rare prodigy making headlines straight out of high school, Shaq was quick to remind everyone- that’s not the norm.

“People gotta understand everybody is not a Cooper Flagg. No, everybody’s not a Cooper Flagg. So that’s who [high school kids] I kind of feel sorry for,” he added. And who can argue? Cooper Flagg has been nothing short of jaw-dropping. At just 18, he’s shown a command of the game far beyond his years. Scoring, rebounding, defending, making plays—it’s all there. Furthermore, his college debut didn’t just meet expectations; it practically ran through them. Thus placing him firmly in the conversation as the top NBA draft prospect just after one season of college basketball.

Furthermore, you can’t blame Shaquille O’Neal for not being concerned about a player who is already drawing comparisons with a Chicago Bulls legend.

Cooper Flagg recently earned a comparison with Bulls star Scottie Pippen

Flagg gave Duke fans plenty to cheer for this season. But the Blue Devils’ run came to an end with a tough loss to Houston in the Final Four. Now that his college campaign is in the books, the attention naturally shifts to the next big chapter — his likely rise to the top of the NBA Draft, where many already expect him to go first overall.

That’s where things start to heat up. ESPN recently broke down how Flagg might fit into the NBA, and one comparison in particular stood out. An Eastern Conference general manager mentioned a name that instantly sparked debate among fans: Scottie Pippen.

Yep, the Chicago Bulls legend known for doing just about everything on the court – scoring, defending, distributing, and rebounding. According to GM Rachel Baker, Flagg carries that same kind of do-it-all potential, even if he may not be the main star right away.

“I say Scottie because he could have been a No. 1 guy and was after MJ left [Chicago], but he became by far the best No. 2,” the executive said. “I think Cooper will be a hell of a No. 2, but he might need a top 10 [player] running mate with him. He can obviously prove me wrong, but I don’t see him as a No. 1 guy on a championship team in his career.”

In either case, there is no denying that a comparison with Pip is no small feat. No wonder Shaquille O’Neal is concerned for the future of high school kids and not Cooper Flagg, as of now.