What Do Anthony Edwards, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade Have In Common? Uncle Shaq Explains

Shaquille O’Neal can dissect the game of basketball as easily as he slices through barbecue chicken. This weekend, Uncle Shaq heaped praise on an NBA star not because of something he does on the court, but because of something he refuses to do time and time again.

Prior to the Minnesota Timberwolves-Denver Nuggets game, Shaq gave Anthony Edwards his flowers. The reason: Edwards has been known to shun his coach’s instructions and refuse to pass the ball.

“I like playing with a guy like that,” O’Neal said. “Kobe was like that. D-Wade was like that. Penny was like that. You need a guy that says, hey man, I’m taking the last shot. I don’t care what nobody says.”

Shaq, who thrived alongside each of the three elite shot-makers that he mentioned, admitted that he was also a hardheaded franchise player at certain points in his career. “Me and Phil Jackson, we went at it respectfully. At the end of the day, we hugged. Because we all want the same thing. We want to get to that next level.”

If Edwards were plotting his career along the same lines as Shaq’s, he’d realize that he’s at the “Orlando” level and not at the “Lakers-Kobe-Phil Jackson” stage yet. To Ant’s credit, he has led the Timberwolves to two consecutive appearances in the Western Conference Finals. However, the six-year pro has yet to compete on the grand stage of the NBA Finals, something that the Diesel was able to do in his third season.

Still, the comparison that Shaq made was a high compliment. Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and Penny Hardaway were among the most feared gunners of their respective generations, and Edwards has commanded this level of respect in today’s game.

Giving one more piece of advice, the Big Aristotle urged Edwards to “respectfully” convey any disagreements that he has with his head coach. Shaq, after all, knows the consequences of doing otherwise. “I only got out of hand one time,” he shared. “The next day, I woke up in Phoenix.”