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Shaquille O'Neal Goes Off On Shannon Sharpe In Epic Rant

Originally posted on Fadeaway World
By Ishaan Bhattacharya | Last updated 5/10/24

Shaquille O'Neal went off on Shannon Sharpe after the NFL Hall of Famer claimed Shaq was jealous of Nikola Jokic and that's why Shaq told Jokic that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserved MVP over him to his face.

"You took me sticking up for Shai as jealousy of Joker. Shows how smart you are and how you say anything to get clicks. So, here’s some clickbait for you. If you ain’t ranked in the top ten in your profession, then you can’t speak on me. Don’t forget, I know what you did to get where you're at."

O'Neal laughed at the accusations of jealousy while calling himself worth more than Sharpe.

"Me jealous? Sounds like you're jealous. I know you're trying to stay relevant by gossiping on your podcast. We don’t believe you. You need more people and, in case you forgot, 4 rings, three finals MVPs, Top 50, and Top 75. Google me. To be quite frank, all this new success you got, you still under me. You don’t know my work ethic. But according (to you), I work less than you but I'm worth more than you. Make it make sense. Love you too. If you need help making money, it’s better ways than gossiping. I’m too old for this s---."

O'Neal reiterated his point that Sharpe can't disagree with his opinion as Shaq was greater as a basketball player than Sharpe was in the NFL.

"Love always, the most dominant big man ever who never took it seriously. Remember, I don’t know you and in the words of Skip Bayless, I'm better than you. G14 Classification, I have it, you don’t, not in my profession. And your GOAT debate, never wanted to be the GOAT. I wanted to be who you should greet me as, THE MOST DOMINANT EVER."

Sharpe had made his comments on 'Nightcap with Ochocinco' about Shaq's jealousy and lack of work ethic because of his reaction to Jokic being named MVP.

“Shaq should have five MVPs. He sees a guy like Nikola Jokic that’s not as dominant as him, get three (MVP awards) in four years, I think a part of Shaq is envious of that. It’s hard for me to put somebody in the GOAT conversation with one MVP. So we going to take somebody with one regular season MVP and put him in front people that got three, that got four, that got five. If he had my work ethic, he had 40,000 points.”

if Shaq woulda had Unc's worth ethic @ShannonSharpe @ochocinco @GilsArenaShow @ShayShayMedia_ pic.twitter.com/1PeqWlKnCD
— Nightcap (@NightcapShow_) May 9, 2024

O'Neal wouldn't be happy seeing someone like Sharpe publicly talk about his name like this. Shaq interrupted Jokic while he was receiving his MVP award to advocate for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, which was odd; it shouldn't lead to such comments from a veteran media presence like Sharpe.

O'Neal's implication that Sharpe didn't earn his position in the media world through traditional channels is a little spicy. If O'Neal expands on those comments, this could become a very interesting feud.

Given how feuds are in the air with the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef, O'Neal and Sharpe bringing that to the basketball media world would be hilarious.

Shaq's accolades don't fall short compared to players like Jokic already. if Jokic can claim three regular-season MVPs to Shaq's one, Shaq can claim three Finals MVPs to Jokic's one. O'Neal averaged 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks over his career and had one of the most dominant careers of all time.

Instead of comparing the two, we should appreciate the two and remark on the evolution of the center position since O'Neal's MVP win in 2000 to what Jokic has achieved now.

This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.

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