Al Harrington: "Orlando Shaq, Not Lakers Shaq, Would Thrive In Today's NBA"

Back in the 2000s, Indiana Pacers big man Al Harrington had to contend with the might of the juggernaut known as Shaquille O’Neal. Harrington knows Shaq up close and personal, which is why his recent opinion on the Diesel is worth a listen.

Appearing on “Run It Back,” Harrington was asked to give his thoughts on O’Neal’s legacy. The 6-foot-9 big man responded with an honest assessment of how Shaq would have performed in today’s NBA.

“Orlando Shaq could have played in this era,” Harrington said with confidence. “Lakers Shaq, maybe not so much… When Shaq was young, he was as good as anybody. He could handle the ball back then, and he would make turnaround shots, stuff like that.”

’90s fans, of course, will remember that the Orlando Magic iteration of O’Neal showcased a highly colorful skill set. In addition to the skills outlined by Harrington, that version of O’Neal could also run the floor and pose dilemmas for defenders, who’d have to choose between a Diesel dunk, a Penny Hardaway finish at the rim, or even a Dennis Scott transition three.

When O’Neal moved to the Los Angeles Lakers, he was more of a tank than a sports car, bulldozing his way through formidable enforcers in the paint. Within the system of Phil Jackson’s triangle offense, Shaq owned the interior and forced opposing teams to send multiple defenders, thus freeing up shooters like Kobe Bryant, Rick Fox, Robert Horry, and Derek Fisher on the perimeter.

To Harrington’s point, the Orlando version of Shaq had a style of play closer to what NBA fans now watch on the regular: fast-paced action that has no shortage of masterful dribbling on the open court. On the flip side, O’Neal was one of the last “pure” centers in the mid-2000s before the league began a transition into a phase showcasing small ball and a flurry of threes every night.

The thought exercise of plucking players from different eras is always a fun experience for fans and analysts alike. Harrington, who went up against the Big Aristotle in the 2000 NBA Finals, may be on to something when he says that younger Shaq, not older Shaq, would have thrived in 2025.