After Steph Curry’s spectacular 33-point performance, lifting the Golden State Warriors to an overtime victory against the Boston Celtics, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal is contemplating whether it’s time to consider Curry among the greatest of all time (GOAT).
Expressing his thoughts on TNT’s Inside The NBA, Shaq pondered, “I’m wondering, not saying, I’m just wondering because he’s been consistently the best shooter his whole career, I’m wondering is it time to put him as the best player of all time.”
When Kenny Smith asked if Shaq would place Curry above himself as a better player, O’Neal responded affirmatively, stating, “Yes, of course. This is why he’s my favorite player. I played 20 years, watched 20 year before that, I’ve never seen a guy like him, and he’s doing it consistently and he has championships.”
While Shaq refrained from definitive rankings, he urged fans to consider Curry’s place in the conversation of the best players ever.
“I’m not putting him anywhere,” he said when asked by Ernie Johnson if he puts Curry above Michael Jordan. “I’m saying for all the chitter chatter, is it time to put him in the conversation. I’m asking the fans is it time to start putting him in the conversation as one of the best players ever.”
Despite O’Neal’s endorsement, Smith maintained that Curry falls short of the GOAT pool, which, according to him, comprises players like Jordan, LeBron James, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who significantly impacted the game in diverse ways, setting them apart from the rest. Shaq, however, argued that Curry deserves inclusion in this exclusive group.