NBA Legend Shaquille O?Neal has graced this planet for 51 years. He played 19 dominating seasons of NBA basketball during that time. Following his retirement, Shaq joined TNT’s Inside the NBA crew to stay close to the game he loves. In some shape or form, he has been involved with the basketball world for over 30 years. That much experience has definitely granted him some wisdom about the disparities between different generations.

A few hours before their children took to Vegas to set the mood for an event, the former Lakers big and another former NBA athlete discussed how the younger has gotten soft due to some changes.

‘The Glove’ gives an interview for Shaquille O?Neal?s podcast

Shaq interviews guests on ?The Big Podcast”, his own segment run with Spice Adams and Nischelle Turner. Last month, his guest was the 1996 Defensive Player of the Year and 2006 NBA champion. The Glove, Gary Payton.

During the segment, Adams asked ?GP? about his opinion on basketball park culture.

Payton placed the blame on the AAU Program for making the new generation softer in their approach toward basketball. The former Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers player feels that the program has made the purpose of going out and playing in the park obsolete.

He had a particular issue with the grouping of players under a coach whose sole purpose is to find top-notch colleges for them. Payton believes that this has reduced the actual coaching mentorship these prospects receive. Furthermore, he pointed out how the accessibility of the program has also changed perceptions.

?We usually used to go outside and try to get run? said the 9x NBA All-Star. He continued, ?We used to have to go jump over gates and put nets on Basketball Rims to play. We didn?t have 17 shoes to go to a gym and everybody sitting there waiting for us.?

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Payton agreed that he and Shaq went through all the hardship just so that the next generation didn?t have to. But now he thinks that by treating them leniently, the kids of today are easily knocked down and being prevented from reaching their full potential.

Myles O?Neal performs alongside Gary Payton II

While the duo may not be that happy about how the current generation is turning out to be, Shaq and Payton?s kids are living their best life. A month after their podcast conversation, the NBA champions’ sons were seen partying together.

Gary Payton II is a shooting guard for the Warriors, where he won a championship ring in 2022. Recently, he posted a story where Shaq?s son Myles O?Neal was seen performing as a DJ at the Encore Beach Club, in Las Vegas. Myles later reposted the story on his Instagram account.

The crowd witnessed the 26-year-old millionaire vibing with them while also taking charge of the music. Payton Jr, on the other hand, acted as a spectator, recording the young DJ’s performance.

The event was an after-party held after UFC Champion Alexander Volkanovski’s victory against his rival. The event acted as the young O’Neal’s debut in the UFC world.

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While Myles gained prominence in the fashion and modeling industry, he shares the same amount of passion for music and DJing as his father, who himself performs under the persona of ?DJ Diesel?.