In the world of the NBA, it is not rare for a player to be placed on a pedestal and compared to the icons of the game. From Stephen Curry being compared to Magic Johnson to LeBron James being compared to Michael Jordan, various debates continue to gain traction. Two other stars have recently become the topic of a parley: Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O?Neal and Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.

Jokic has been a dominating force during the ongoing NBA season. Averaging 29.8 points, 8.3 assists, 13.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game, he could very well be on his way to earning another MVP award. Jokic is being hailed as the ?most dominant big man? by some. Former NBA star, Gilbert Arenas, however, believes that the title continues to be a part of the legacy left behind by Shaq.

Gilbert Arenas places Shaquille O’Neal higher than Nikola Jokic.

It all started a few days ago when former Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas returned with another episode of his famed ?Gil?s Arena? podcast. Co-host Josiah Johnson asked Arenas whether he believes that Jokic will be established as ?the most dominant offensive big man in the modern NBA history? if he manages to average a few more triple-doubles during his career. While he did not undercut any of Jokic?s achievements, Arenas still believes that the title will continue to belong to Shaquille O?Neal.

?You have to give it to the dude they (the other teams) had to change rules for,? said Arenas. ?When you are talking about making a claim, they had to make a rule, they had to fake like a zone, for this team, offensive, we going to move the ball, it was to stop someone, because they couldn?t stop him.?

The former Wizards star claimed that during Shaq?s prime, the opposition had to look for defenders with a specific build who could stand up against the Big Aristotle. This scare tactic, according to Arenas, is not something that is possessed by the 28-year-old Nuggets star.

?When he started getting like defensive respect, that Shaq was getting, like right now we are giving him that for the passing part of it. But when he has the ball, is anyone scared that he is going to give 40 or 50 every night,? Arenas added towards the end.

Shaquille O’Neal’s huge stature allowed him to get the better of other NBA Giants

Over the past few years, Gilbert Arenas has created a reputation for taking bold stands on certain issues. It wasn?t that long ago when the author stated his disagreement over Arenas? comments regarding Hakeem Olajuwon?s training camp. When taking the Shaq-Jokic topic into consideration, however, the author will have to side with Arenas? remarks.

Shaquille O?Neal?s presence on the basketball court was definitely something that NBA teams had to separately account for. Standing at an impressive 7 feet 1 inch and weighing around 325 pounds, his huge build added an advantage in his role as a center.?Much of the same was felt when Shaquille O?Neal joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996.

Alongside the late Kobe Bryant, Shaq helped the team to win three consecutive NBA championships. He managed to do so by using his high-scoring ability, rebounding prowess, and shot-blocking skills. Even when facing a 7’4″ Rik Smits during the 2000 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, Shaq managed to average 38 points and 16.7 rebounds during the six games.

During the 2001 NBA Finals, Shaq and the Lakers competed against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Finals. Back then, the team boasted of defensive stalwart Dikembe Mutombo on their roster. Many people thought that Shaq met his match with the huge defensive center. However, the Lakers icon squashed those expectations and went on to average 33 points, 3.4 blocks, and 15.8 rebounds en route to another Finals MVP.

Nikola Jokic, standing at 6 foot 11 and weighing 284 pounds, isn?t as big and brutal as O?Neal. He created his dominating reputation by adopting a more dynamic style of play. Despite his achievements, Jokic is still yet to qualify as a player who has the ability to knock his most intense rivals down a peg through brute force.

Shaquille O’Neal was the target of specific defensive techniques during his day

Shaquille O?Neal?s rivals undoubtedly felt the weight of his presence. His towering figure and powerful dunks had a psychological impact on the defense. It forced them to alter their shot selection and adopt strategies.

In some situations, the opponents chose to target his Achilles heel, i.e., his poor free throw technique. They adopted a defensive strategy which came to be known as the ?Hack-a-Shaq?. Players from different teams would cause intentional fouls in order to get Shaq to the free-throw line because for O’Neal, making a free throw was more difficult than dunking on players.

?Hack-a-Shaq? helped restrict Shaq?s dominance. At the same time, it also helped to highlight the fact that the strategy was solely adopted because Shaq?s rival teams couldn?t do anything about his huge stature.

Other than ‘Hack-a-Shaq’, teams had to make use of other strategies that specifically worked against their huge opponent. Multiple defenders would often be thrown at Shaq simultaneously. More than often, coaches would make use of a zone defense to block out the player entirely. No one knows more about the same than legendary coach Phil Jackson, who highlighted Shaq?s prowess during an old interview with HuffPost.

?Shaq was the major component that allowed defenses to change. You can play a zone now; basically, they just have a three-second lane violation, and you can play any defense you want. Before that, it was difficult to defend against Shaq because you had to do it individually,? said Jackson.

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When discussing Nikola Jokic, no such special defensive strategies have been created especially for him. Given his normal stature, the player could be easily targeted, just like any other player, through physicality and aggression. Unlike Shaq, Jokic?s rivals can body up against him, and deny him any easy passes. However, that hasn’t really proved fruitful yet either.

The Final Verdict

Shaquille O?Neal and Nikola Jokic are two players of very different generations. Both of them have distinct playing styles and strengths, which they made use of in order to excel in their field. With time, it may be possible that Jokic will surpass all the records set by Shaq and emerge as the most dominating force in NBA history. For now, however, that day has still not arrived.

Just like Gilbert Arenas, various NBA enthusiasts appreciate the records set by the current players. At the same time, they do not forget the decades-old legacy that was established by the players who came before. In order to change opinion in Arenas? mind, Jokic will probably have to continue playing his part for the remainder of his career and see where the road leads him.

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Editorial Disclaimer:?The?views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.