Shaquille O’Neal made an unexpected admission during a segment on NBA on TNT, revealing that he does not watch the Detroit Pistons.
The moment occurred after Detroit’s dominant 123-103 victory over the Washington Wizards when O’Neal mistakenly credited Chauncey Billups as the Pistons’ head coach. Candace Parker quickly corrected him, prompting an awkward exchange.
“I like what Chauncey [Billups] is doing. Those guys play hard,” O’Neal said.
Parker immediately responded, “No, I can’t let this go. Who’s doing it?”
Realizing his mistake, Shaq hesitated before doubling down. “Chauncey’s the coach, right?”
Host Adam Lefkoe quickly corrected him with a blunt, “No.” Vince Carter added, “JB Bickerstaff.”
O’Neal then shrugged off the moment and admitted, “I don’t watch Detroit.”
The Pistons, currently 37-29 and sixth in the Eastern Conference, have been one of the NBA’s biggest surprises this season. Their latest win against Washington was another statement performance, with Cade Cunningham leading the way with 27 points and 10 assists.
Detroit controlled the game from start to finish, never trailing and maintaining a double-digit lead throughout the second half. Jalen Duren added 15 points and 13 rebounds, while the Pistons dominated the boards with 61 total rebounds.
Despite their impressive turnaround this season, Detroit has struggled to gain national recognition. O’Neal’s admission only reinforced the perception that major media figures often overlook the Pistons.
The game featured some tense moments, with Washington’s Richaun Holmes getting ejected in the fourth quarter after elbowing Ausar Thompson in the face during a rebound battle. Moments later, Marcus Smart committed a flagrant-1 foul on Tim Hardaway Jr., further escalating tensions.
Smart led the Wizards with 16 points, while Jordan Poole and Bub Carrington each scored 15. However, Washington struggled from the field, shooting just 40.2% overall and 33.3% from three-point range.
Detroit’s bench made a strong impact, with Malik Beasley scoring 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting from deep. Dennis Schroder contributed 11 points and four assists, while Isaiah Stewart pulled down seven rebounds.
The Pistons shot 46.2% from the floor and 42.1% from beyond the arc, showcasing their efficiency. Meanwhile, Washington struggled to match their ball movement, recording only 20 assists compared to Detroit’s 29.
With the playoffs approaching, Detroit remains in the thick of the postseason race. However, O’Neal’s remarks show that despite their progress, the Pistons still have work to do in earning national respect.
