Shaquille O'Neal picks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the next face of the NBA: "If he wins a championship this year, it's his league"
Shaquille O'Neal picks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the next face of the NBA: "If he wins a championship this year, it's his league" originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Let's face it: the NBA is struggling to identify its next superstar after LeBron James and Stephen Curry. While there is no lack of talent, there remains a missing X factor: a superstar whose skill combined with charisma can lead the league into the future. The definition of popularity and star power has changed with the evolution of social media.
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Fans today have more access to their favorite NBA superstars than ever. The overexposure has led to an absence of mystery. This was not the case in the previous eras, with legends such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird who exuded aura.
Another crucial factor is that the league hasn't found a talent since LeBron and Steph that is able to bring the game to a new dimension.
Touching down upon the subject during the latest episode of the "Pivot Podcast," Shaquille O'Neal explained why greatness isn't handed it out, it's taken. The four-time champion shared Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's example, as he picked him as the next face of the league.
"Right now, SGA is taking it, and he's taking it surely and smoothly. He ain't saying, not being arrogant about it. When I watch guys play and I get criticized for this a lot because my thing is, I've seen Magic, I've seen Jordan, I've seen Kareem, I've seen greatness. I've played with Penny, played with Kobe, played with D-Wade and LeBron. I've been part of greatness. If you're not in that category, I'm not giving you no type of props," revealed "The Big Diesel," who is widely regarded as the most dominating center of all time.
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Talking about potential, Shaq added the following: "When they talk about who the next guy is, I say you got to give it to SGA right now because he's taking it. If he wins a championship this year, it's his league," claimed the Lakers legend, who was part of the last 3-peat in the NBA, between 2000 and 2002.
Shaq's definition of greatness
Often regarded as a tough critic, impressing Shaq is no easy feat. The three-time Finals MVP can be brutal with his words sometimes. Nonetheless, there have been instances of the fifteen-time All-Star giving due where needed.
Addressing the subject of greatness, Shaq dished out some names, "SGA is in there now. Stephen Curry's in there now. Giannis and Joker, those guys are in."
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Certainly, it's hard to disagree with "Big Diesel" in this case, given all the above names have proved themselves at each level. As Shai looks to secure his first championship, "The Chef," "Greek Freak," and "The Joker" have been granted the G-12 classification by the most dominant in history.
Related: Luc Longley on why he and Michael Jordan couldn't get along: "Mike was doing what he did to rookies, what he was doing to me"
Potential candidates for the future
The process of identifying the future face of the NBA continues to be challenging. Nevertheless, there are certainly a couple of names who are truly deserving and could possibly take the baton. These nominees are the proper blend of skill and personality.
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Starting with SGA, others capable of making the cut include Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, Ja Morant and Victor Wembanyama. That said, it won't be easy to replicate the impact of LeBron or Steph, who continue to dominate at a high level.
Related: "He checks every single box for what you want" - Kendrick Perkins says Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is ready to be the next face of the NBA
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
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