Shaquille O’Neal is calling for a serious reevaluation of the NBA’s greatest-of-all-time (GOAT) conversation, urging fans to include Stephen Curry.
As the leader of “The Big Man Alliance,” Shaq made a bold statement about Curry’s place in basketball history. “I played against Mike, played with Kobe, and played against and with LeBron. They’re all great, but at some point, we have to start putting Steph Curry in that category,” O’Neal said on Insider the NBA, via HoopsHype. He continued, “I have never seen anything like this before, and nobody has.”
Curry, 36, continues to deliver elite performances on the court. He is averaging 24 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in 32.1 minutes per game this season. His ability to change the game, especially with his shooting range, has been revolutionary in shaping modern basketball.
In a recent victory over the New York Knicks, Curry put up 28 points and dished out 9 assists, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 114-102 win. This performance extended Curry’s dominant record at Madison Square Garden to 12-1, further cementing his status as a player who rises to the occasion in the biggest moments.
The win, which improved the Warriors to 34-28 on the season, was part of a successful road trip. Brandin Podziemski and Jimmy Butler each added 19 points to help the Warriors secure the victory. Despite missing key players like All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns, the Knicks were outpaced by Golden State’s late-game surge.
Golden State’s defense and Curry’s offensive prowess helped break open a tight game late. An 11-0 run by the Warriors sealed the victory, with Curry scoring 20 of his 28 points in the second half. Despite playing on the second night of a back-to-back, Curry showed no lingering effects from his ankle injury sustained earlier in the week.
Shaq’s call for Curry’s inclusion in the GOAT conversation echoes growing recognition of the guard’s game-changing influence. Curry revolutionized the sport with his deep three-point shooting, which has altered how teams approach offense in the modern NBA. His accolades, including multiple MVPs and championships, make him an obvious candidate for such discussions.
While the debate surrounding the GOAT is often dominated by players like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James, Curry’s influence on the game cannot be overlooked. As Shaq put it, it’s time for fans to “start putting him in the conversation.”
