Shaquille O'Neal Doesn't Hold Back on Jayson Tatum's Hall of Fame Chances
Shaquille O'Neal Doesn't Hold Back on Jayson Tatum's Hall of Fame Chances originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Shaquille O'Neal has played a major role within the NBA for over 30 years, building one of the most decorated resumes of all time as a player and later becoming a well-liked TV personality during his tenure with the "NBA on TNT" cast.
Advertisement
In his 19-year playing career, O'Neal won four championships, an MVP Award, and sits among the top ten all-time scoring leaders.
Since stepping off the court, he's begun hosting "The Big Podcast" alongside his "NBA on TNT" partner Adam Lefkoe. On Thursday's episode, Lefkoe claimed Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum's resume is enough for a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction, right now, and Shaq didn't hold back.
NBA analyst Shaquille O'Neal and Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum.© Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images | © John Jones-Imagn Images
When talking to Lefkoe, Shaq said, "You (expletive) just throwing people in there now," clearly thinking Tatum's resume is not worthy.
'You ever see that movie 'Ocean's Thirteen?' I'm going to break into the Hall of Fame and take all of my (expletive) out,' O'Neal said. You (expletive) just throwing people in there now."
Advertisement
Shaq went on to say he thinks there are two types of Hall of Fames: a "bad" one and a "basketball" one.
"Isiah Thomas said it the best one day, he said there's two Hall of Fames," Shaq added. "There's a bad (expletive) Hall of Fame and there's a basketball Hall of Fame."
At only 27 years of age, Tatum has racked up six All-Star appearances, five All-NBA selections and an NBA championship. With high expectations joining a legendary organization like the Celtics, the 2017 third-overall pick had all the pressure in the world to perform.
According to Shaq, these accolades, combined with career averages of 23.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game (via ESPN), may not be enough to make it into the Hall of Fame right now, but he didn't rule it out when it's all said and done.
Advertisement
Related: NBA Legend Had One Word for Son Dylan Harper's Possible Teams
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
29 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Gavin Lux hits a grand slam, Reds rout Diamondbacks 13-1 for 2nd win of the day
CINCINNATI — Gavin Lux hit a grand slam, Christian Encarnacion-Strand homered for the second straight game and the Cincinnati Reds routed the Arizona Diamondbacks 13-1 on Saturday after completing a suspended game with a 4-3 victory in 10 innings . TJ Friedl and Elly De La Cruz drew walks off Arizona starter Ryne Nelson, and Encarnacion-Strand hit his fourth homer for a 3-0 lead. Will Benson walked and took third on Tyler Stephenson's double before scoring on Spencer Steer's single. Jake Fraley drove in a run with a forceout for a 5-0 first-inning lead.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Baltimore Ravens' Marlon Humphrey Makes Top 10 Position Rankings Ahead of 2025 NFL Season
Baltimore Ravens' Marlon Humphrey Makes Top 10 Position Rankings Ahead of 2025 NFL Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Baltimore Ravens have been known for their fierce defense, but over the years it's evolved into an frightening matchup for many offenses in the NFL. Advertisement Part of that is due to the secondary. In Pro Football Focus' recent NFL positional rankings, Ravens corner Marlon Humphrey was named in the top 10 at No. 7, overlooking recent injury problems. 7. Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens "After battling injuries in 2023 and posting a career-low 63.2 PFF coverage grade, Humphrey enjoyed a mostly healthy 2024 season and posted an 81.0 PFF coverage grade, good for the second-best mark of his career. He ranked fourth in PFF advanced coverage grade in 2024, and his 6.4% interceptions-per-target rate was a career high." It's high praise and good company for the eight-year veteran. Advertisement The New York Jets' Sauce Gardner took the top spot again after being No. 1 a season ago too. Humphrey is behind Garder, 2. Pat Surtain of the Denver Broncos, 3. Trent McDuffie of the Kansas City Chiefs, 4. the Chicago Bears' Jaylon Johnson, 5. Derek Stingley Jr. of the Houston Texans and 6. D.J. Reed of the Detroit Lions. As PFF noted, Humphrey posted a good comeback season in 2024 after dealing with injuries and playing just 10 games in 2023. The former Alabama Crimson Tide defender posted a half sack, 67 total tackles with 50 solo and five for loss, four QB hits, six interceptions with a pick-6, two forced fumbles and 15 passes defended across 16 games. Related: Ravens Update Zay Flowers' Injury Recovery Related: 'Remarkably Consistent' Ravens Dubbed Second-Most Complete Team This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Amanda Nunes confirms mammoth UFC return after intense staredown with new champion Kayla Harrison
Amanda Nunes has confirmed her intention to make a mammoth return to the UFC after engaging in an intense staredown with newly-crowned bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison. Nunes is widely considered the greatest women's fighter in UFC history, boasting the accolade as the first women to ever hold two title simultaneously while also holding the record for longest unbeaten streak in women's UFC history on nine. She bid farewell to the sport in 2023, retiring on top as she vacated both her titles to enjoy her riches and focus on her family. Now, however, she appears to be on her way back to the cage after Harrison invited her into the Octagon following her title win at UFC 316, stoking the fire for a mouth-watering title clash down the line.' 'I see you Amanda,' she said in her post-fight interview. 'Come on up. This is the next fight. 'This is the greatest fighter of all time, for a long time I've said I want what she has. I have a belt, she has a legacy, let's put it all on the line.' Return of The Lioness 🦁 🇧🇷 #UFC316Is @KaylaH vs @Amanda_Leoa next?! — UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) June 8, 2025 Joe Rogan asked Nunes if she planned to accept the challenge, to which the former two-division champion said: 'Yes definitely. We knew this was going to happen. Now, we're going to do it. I'm more than happy to come back and fight you.' After exchanging pleasantries, the pair then got the money shot in a vehement staredown in the middle of the Octagon, evoking a raucous reaction from the New Jersey crowd. It leaves the women's bantamweight division in its strongest position in years, now with a marquee bout in the pipeline. The announcement preceded Merab Dvalishvili's bantamweight title rematch with Sean O'Malley, which the Georgian steamrolled to victory in to stake his claim as the best to ever do it in his division.
