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Time of India
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Brandon Jennings and Boston Celtics' star player in cold war after the former NBA player revealed reason for criticism
Former NBA player, Brandon Jennings finally explained his reason for calling the Boston Celtics' star player, Jayson Tatum 'soft.' The infamous comment was made just after Tatum got hospitalized for having a severe Achilles tear, which was not well received by fans and Celtics' staff. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Months after, Brandon Jennings finally got a chance to explain the reason behind calling Tatum soft, by comparing him to legendary players. However, as usual Tatum replied in a nonchalant way by giving an update on his injury just an hour after the podcast video surfaced. Brandon Jennings reveals why he called Jayson Tatum 'soft' Brandon Jennings recently appeared on 'The Big Podcast' where he was asked about the infamous comment he made when Tatum got hospitalized for having an Achilles tear. Jennings went on to say, 'Yeah, because I said Tatum was the softest Celtics' superstar ever. But I never say he wasn't great.' When asked to explain his reason for calling Tatum soft, the former NBA player went ahead and revealed the actual reason. 'I guess I'm going off because of Jaylen Brown getting Final MVPs and Easter Conference, and this is supposed to be your team in the moment. That's just like when you went to the Finals, and if Kobe would have got Finals MVP, it would have been looking like kind of like, well, Shaq ain't really like, you would be just looking like, well, Shaq ain't really like that, like when it comes down to it.' He also went ahead and added, 'So for a Celtics superstar, you know, and the toughness and what the Celtics bring…So, but that doesn't mean that he's not a great player. I just, you know, as far as what a Celtics.' Though he was berated on the podcast as well, where the NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal called him out for using the word. O'Neal went on to say that it was a harsh word, and there were other words that Jennings could have used, to which the latter had nothing to say. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Jayson Tatum gives nonchalant reply to Brandon Jennings Exactly an hour after the podcast video surfaced all over the Internet, Jayson Tatum gave a nonchalant reply to Jennings. Tatum took to his official X handle and gave a short injury update. The tweet read, 'Day 25… days starting to get a little easier.' Whether it was a direct jab to Jennings or simply an injury update, is up for debate. As per sources, Tatum is supposed to make full recovery and will be back by next season. Also Read:
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Shaquille O'Neal revisits history asserting bold statement on modern NBA stars: 'Nobody ever really played me straight up'
Shaquille O'Neal, one of the most dominant forces in NBA history, recently reignited conversation around the changing nature of basketball across eras. Appearing on episodes of The Big Podcast and New Heights, O'Neal reflected on his toughest battles, shared vivid memories of his legendary dunks, and sparked debate by pointing out which current players could have survived and thrived in his bruising, physical era. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now His comments cut through nostalgia and bravado, offering a rare window into how he views greatness then and now. Shaquille O'Neal asserts that his era wasn't for the faint of heart Shaquille O'Neal. Image via: Getty Images Shaquille O'Neal admits not every game was a cakewalk. When Brandon Jennings asked about the toughest era he faced, Shaq replied without hesitation, 'That's a really unfair question because nobody ever really played me straight up,' he began. But he singled out the early 2000s, when the league introduced the 'Shaq Rules' as particularly challenging. 'When you can do the front and back, it got difficult for a while… with a guy in front of you, I really couldn't get the ball a lot. ' He also revealed how rugged the game was when he entered the league: 'It was the end of that 'Bad Boy' era. The Knicks would f*** you up. Detroit will still f*** you up.' He even admitted, 'Rik Smits used to embarrass me… Hakeem [Olajuwon] was the last one to give me work.' Though he eventually surpassed his contemporaries, saying he 'got Robinson out of there, I got Ewing out of there, I got Hakeem out of there,' Shaq acknowledged the mental and physical demands of the era. And yet, his peak came in this very stretch, when he led the Lakers to a historic three-peat from 2000 to 2002. The irony? His dominance grew in the very era he calls the toughest. Shaq didn't mince words when asked which current players could hang in his time: 'LeBron, of course—well, he did play in our era. KD also played in our era. That's about it.' But he made a bold addition, the Timberwolves' young star . 'Ant Edwards, big and strong,' he said, signaling that Edwards' physicality reminds him of a bygone era. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now No conversation with Shaq is complete without revisiting his iconic dunks. He singled out two as his favorites, including the infamous poster over Knicks center Chris Dudley. 'He was all over me, and I was like, 'Get the fu** off me,'' Shaq recalled. He laughed about it years later, even joking with Dudley, 'Are you trying to fight or you trying to give me a hug?' Also Read: The Hall of Famer's contribution to basketball has certainly been top-notch, while he enjoys the modern NBA game, in fact being an analyst in the Inside the NBA crew, he will never leave an opportunity to hail the old-school glory, especially of his time.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Shaq makes bold claim about Jayson Tatum's Hall of Fame credentials
Shaquille O'Neal isn't buying Jayson Tatum's Hall of Fame résumé just yet. Tatum is an NBA champion, six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection at 27, but O'Neal is not convinced those accolades are enough to warrant the Celtics star entry into the Hall. On his 'The Big Podcast,' Shaq didn't seem swayed as his co-host, Adam Lefkoe, made Tatum's Hall of Fame case. 'He's at an interesting point because his résumé is already Hall of Fame,' Lefkoe said, to which O'Neal responded: 'What … he's a Hall of Famer?' 3 Shaquille O'Neal isn't convinced about Jayson Tatum's Hall of Fame credentials just yet. Screengrab via X/@TheDunkCentral From there, O'Neal claimed that there's a regular Basketball Hall of Fame, and then a 'Bad Motherf–ker Hall of Fame.' Among active players besides LeBron James — a no-brainer selection — Shaq deemed Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic worthy of entry to the 'Bad Motherf–ker Hall of Fame.' By the numbers, Tatum would seem to be well in position to make the Hall of Fame through his first eight years in the league. The NBA title, All-Star appearances and All-NBA selections speak for themselves, and Tatum also has an Olympic gold medal to his name, as Lefkoe went on to note. There are multiple Hall of Famers with similar résumés to Tatum's. 3 Jayson Tatum is an NBA champion, six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection. AP Grant Hill, for instance, was a seven-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA pick but never an NBA champion, and Alonzo Mourning was a one-time champion, seven-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection. On paper, Tatum's resume to this point is on a similar level. Shaq, a Hall of Famer himself, still needs to see more. 3 Shaquille O'Neal isn't sold on Jayson Tatum's Hall of Fame credentials. AP Tatum will be out for most — if not all — of next season after rupturing his Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the second round against the Knicks. When he returns, he'll almost surely return to perennial All-Star and All-NBA form, making it even tougher for Shaq to defend his bold take.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shaquille O'Neal Names Four Current Players Who Deserve To Make The Hall Of Fame, Two Superstars Snubbed
Shaquille O'Neal Names Four Current Players Who Deserve To Make The Hall Of Fame, Two Superstars Snubbed originally appeared on Fadeaway World. Shaquille O'Neal, a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee, shared a rather harsh criticism of players who were considered to be future Hall of Famers. With specific reference to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, O'Neal had this to say on "The Big Podcast". Advertisement "You ever see that movie Ocean's Thirteen? I'm going to just break in and take all my s**t out. M**********r's just throwing anybody in there now." O'Neal continued by referencing NBA legend Isiah Thomas, who had split the Hall of Fame by classifying it into two distinct sections, "There's a bad m**********r Hall of Fame," said the big man. "And there's the basketball Hall of Fame." At this point, O'Neal questioned the legitimacy of Tatum's position as a future Hall of Famer. Although he boasts the necessary credentials, with multiple All-Star selections, All-NBA Team selections, as well as an NBA title, the former NBA player wasn't in agreement with this. In response to this, O'Neal was asked to curate his own Hall of Fame based on the current batch of players, excluding LeBron James. To this, he responded, "I would have to Curry... Got how many rings? 3? 4 rings?" Advertisement He continued by naming Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic. However, when asked whether Chris Paul deserved a place in his list, O'Neal responded by saying, "I'm not a guard. I'm going to let you answer that." Apart from James, who is a shoo-in as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, O'Neal named Warriors star Stephen Curry along with Antetokounmpo and Jokic. Each of the players named has a legitimate case for being inducted, with Curry and Antetokounmpo even being named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team. However, apart from these players, O'Neal very evidently snubbed a couple of greats in the current era - Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard in particular. Advertisement While credentials can be ignored to some extent when defining the parameters of O'Neal's list, Durant and Leonard have presented a very strong case for being considered as Hall of Fame candidates. Durant has solidified his position as one of the greatest offensive players the game has ever seen. With four scoring titles and 15 All-Star appearances to go with his two NBA titles, the forward redefined offense by capturing the title of being unguardable. Meanwhile, Leonard has been one of the most lethal two-way players in recent history. His versatility on both ends of the floor, from scoring in clutch situations to defending out of position, makes him an incredibly rare breed of superstar. Although his injury-prone nature could see him snubbed to some extent, what he is capable of doing when he is on the floor is undeniable. And with two NBA titles, two Finals MVPs, and seven All-Defensive Team selections, he is a certified first-ballot Hall of Famer. Advertisement Apart from these two superstars, O'Neal also missed several other players who would undoubtedly find their place in the Hall of Fame as first-ballot inductees. Chris Paul is certainly a name that has to be considered. Paul has been one of the premier point guards in the NBA for a large part of his career. His sheer longevity, paired with his productivity and success as a floor general, guarantees him a spot among the greats. Other noteworthy players include the likes of Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis. Westbrook was a force of nature during his time with the Thunder. Having averaged a triple-double for three consecutive seasons, Westbrook etched his name in the history books as one of the best to ever do it. Although Davis has been on the receiving end of much criticism in recent years, it is hard to overlook how dominant he was during his title charge with the Lakers. Looking like one of the best big men in the league coming out of college, Davis has been a truly special player. Advertisement Jayson Tatum's accomplishments don't necessarily pale in comparison. But at only 27 years old, they set a solid foundation for making a case in the future. In the process of recovering from his ACL injury, Tatum will have a long road to recovery. Whether this will see the Celtics star return to All-Star form will be a point of concern. However, should he manage to return to form, there is no room for doubting what he could be capable of accomplishing. Related: 25 Players Who Have A Chance To Make NBA 100th Anniversary Team: Luka Doncic Will Be A Legend, Klay Thompson Will Get Redemption This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
NBA icon Shaquille O'Neal lashes out at the Boston Celtics' star Jayson Tatum's Hall Of Fame speculations
The debate around a worthy Hall of Famer in the world of the NBA is as old as the existence of the game. With the first game of the 2025 NBA Finals landing in the Indiana Pacers' court, NBA icon Shaquille O'Neal recently took a dig at the popular Boston Celtics' star Jayson Tatum during a recent episode of The Big Podcast. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now During the conversation, former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal simply lashed out on the possibility of the Celtics' star Jayson Tatum inching closer towards the NBA Hall of Fame. NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal gives a reality check to Jayson Tatum with respect to his Hall of Fame speculations During a recent episode of the widely watched show, The Big Podcast, Shaquille O' Neal lashed out at the Boston Celtics' famous star Jayson Tatum. As the buzz around the talented basketball athlete making it into the Hall of Fame is doing the rounds of the NBA world, Shaquille O'Neal did not think twice about blurting out facts and giving a reality check to his fans. The former basketball star did not mince his words before calling out the popular Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum. As Brandon Jennings pointed out on all the factors why Tatum should be in the Hall of Fame, he said- 'He is in an interesting position, because his resume is already a hall of fame. Shaq, look who we are putting in the Hall of Fame, brother. When you have a championship, when you have five All-Stars, when you have three All-NBA first teams, and when you have a gold medal, Shaq is already pretty much there.' Shaquille O'Neal mentioned 'Have you ever seen the movie Ocean's Thirteen? I'm going to break into the Hall of Fame and take all my shit out. Mother***ers are just throwing people in there now. Isiah Thomas said it best one day. He said there are two Hall of Fames. There's a bad mother**ker Hall of Fame, and there's a Basketball Hall of Fame. So, which Hall of Fame is he in?" Jennings further elaborated- 'I mean that could change. I would say he is in the basketball hall of fame, but right now he is 20-something years old. Okay, so who is the current NBA player who is not LeBron that you would already put in the Bad Mother**ker Hall of Fame?' Shaq instantly added- 'I would have to go to Curry. Yeah, Motherf***er got how many rings? 3 or 4 rings.' Shaquille O'Neal went on to compare Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum with the NBA legend Isiah Thomas, which clearly speaks volumes about his athletic prowess and his understanding of basketball as a sport. Also Read:
