NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal recently unveiled his Mount Rushmore of big men during a conversation with former player Jamal Crawford.
In a candid discussion on The Big Podcast, Shaq offered his picks for the most influential centers in basketball history, excluding himself from the list.
Shaq’s selections included Bill Russell, noting his unparalleled championship pedigree as a defining factor in his inclusion.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also earned a spot on Shaq’s list, recognized for his exceptional scoring prowess and extensive NBA career.
Hakeem Olajuwon, renowned for his agility and defensive prowess, was another unanimous choice for Shaq’s Mount Rushmore.
Rounding out the quartet was Wilt Chamberlain, whom Shaq regarded as one of the most dominant players in NBA history, despite his personal aspirations to surpass Chamberlain’s scoring records.
“You got to go with Mr. [Bill] Russell for championship. You got to go with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. You got to go with Hakeem Olajuwon because I couldn’t stop that motherf*cker. And you got to go with the other most dominant player ever, [Wilt] Chamberlain,” Shaq said.
“I wanted to pass him up in points so bad because I was going to arrogantly say ‘I’m the most dominant big mane ever. I don’t want to f*cking hear nobody else’s name.'”
