Shaq Offers An Interesting Compliment To Luka Doncic: "How Come Nobody Is Able To Stop Him?"

All his life, Shaquille O’Neal has watched explosive competitors taking over the NBA with their sheer athleticism. He appears to have a healthy dose of respect for one of today’s biggest stars, but the way Uncle Shaq conveyed his praise was unique, to say the least.

On a recent episode of “The Big Podcast With Shaq,” O’Neal posed a question that many coaches and players have been pondering for quite some time: “I know he’s really that good, but how come people can’t stop him?”

The Diesel, of course, is referring to Doncic’s pace: In terms of speed and agility, the Slovenian star has never been known to blow by defenders like his buddies LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Rather than relying on a quick first step, Doncic is fond of lulling defenders to sleep before delivering an impeccable pass or going to his lethal step-back jumper.

“He’s not really that fast, he don’t have a lot of lift, but he be busting everybody up,” Shaq pointed out. “I’m like, bro, block his shot.”

Perhaps the scarier thought for the rest of the NBA is the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers guard has become even leaner over the past offseason. With a lighter frame, Doncic can explore even more possibilities in terms of changing pace and misdirecting defenders.

O’Neal certainly appreciates shot-makers who bamboozle their opponents, as he played with supreme athletes like James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade in his NBA career. Just as those three players rose to global prominence because of their athletic feats, Doncic has become a household name with his dazzling array of footwork, handles, and shooting.

Notably, O’Neal and Doncic have had brief but hilarious interactions in the past. After Game 5 of the Dallas Mavericks-Utah Jazz series in the 2022 playoffs, O’Neal (who was then an analyst for TNT) asked Doncic how to say “great job” in Slovenian. The Big Aristotle failed miserably, leading Doncic to offer a crash course in “all the bad words” in his native language.

Later that year, O’Neal went on a mini-tour of European cities as a party DJ. He crossed paths with Doncic in the Slovenia leg of this tour, and the hometown boy gave him this assurance: “Ain’t nothing gon’ happen to you in my town, Mr. O’Neal-ovich.”

As far as O’Neal and Doncic go, respect and admiration are aplenty. Just as Doncic promised “Mr. O’Neal-ovich” his protection, NBA teams can be assured that the five-time All-Star will dominate the league with his unique style of play for years to come.