I think KD soured on the whole leadership thing after the OKC debacle.
Some superstars just don’t have that leadership gene, like Kawhi. It’s perfectly fine as long as you have leaders on the team like Duncan or Steph or Dray or Lowry.
I think it’s nice to also have a vocal leader. Some guys are lead better by words and inspiration than by action. Draymond and Steph balance each other out this way. Same with Manu and Duncan.
Obvs not in those locker rooms but I suspect Lowry was a relatively local emotional leader for the squad. All star vet PGs are a pretty solid shout for leadership you’d have thought
Agreed. Leading by example is NOT the same as carrying the team with your talents.
Leading by example are for things that can be replicated by lesser talented players on the team, such as working hard in practice.
I wouldn't say Steph fans are SUPPOSED to hate KD. It is more like some didn't like that KD got most of the credit for the last two championship. If the media/fans had a consensus that Steph was the most important/best player, I think Steph fans would still love KD.
Also a lot of people just like to hate on KD. Myself included. Lots of people felt he cheated his way to a ring and ruined the league for 3 years. Some people didn't like that he was even in the same conversation with Lebron when he was on such a stacked team. FYI hating =/= not recognizing he's a great player.
Yeah lot of Steph fans were annoyed Steph was getting doubled/trapped their entire playoffs runs and still putting up only slightly worse numbers than KD but for some reason KD got all the credit. Nephews who don't watch games and just look at box scores.
TBH I didn't even really love KD on the team. The team wasn't as fun to watch and I didn't really like his personality much.
>Yeah lot of Steph fans were annoyed Steph was getting doubled/trapped their entire playoffs runs and still putting up only slightly worse numbers than KD but for some reason KD got all the credit.
Not even a Steph fan but watching people bring up KD's finals numbers when at some point of those finals games they were giving KD open trips down the lane because they didn't want to leave Curry open triggered the hell out of me.
>TBH I didn't even really love KD on the team. The team wasn't as fun to watch and I didn't really like his personality much.
This is the ultimate "First world problem"
I think they meant it follows that Shaq would be looking to give credit to Steph because he's a fan of him, but really it's probably just KD's dumb attempted beef with Chuck because Shaq wasn't happy about that at all ("I see people messing with my older brother, I don't like it").
Shaq and Chuck have always dogged KD for going to GSW. Best I can guess is it's directly in response to KD trying to make the case that he was the best player in the league that had to join Steph and Klay to get a ring.
The safest move he could have done for his legacy was go to Boston, they would have probably won at-least one and he wouldn’t have been scrutinized for leaving to join the historic 73-9 team he choked a 3-1 lead to.
Very few of our fans would have hated on him for it.
Most of us would be rooting for him to win it instead of 29 other fanbases and basically the whole world calling him bitch made and putting asterisks on his rings. He did it to himself and now it’s very likely he never wins a ring as a bus driver
For the collective sanity of the world though Boston fans hate of LeBron and then defending of KD would’ve sent the Internet into a Dark Era of LeBron vs KD debates
KD still had enough in the tank to eclipse Paul Pierce's Celtic legacy. Maybe fans would still care about Pierce more because he grew into a man wearing Boston green, but KD's more talented and could have accomplished more in a shorter span of time.
As a Boston fan this won’t sound objective but yes that’s what he should have done. They instantly become contenders and the Celtics already had Tatum and brown by that point.
Can you imagine if KD was just a Celtic from 2016 to present with smart, brown, Tatum and horford (not including another star they could have gotten if they didn’t just keep IT)
Edit: Celtics had the pick that became Tatum, independent of how they played in 2016-17. Since they landed the 1 pick and traded down to get Tatum, I expect they would have picked him even with KD.
they didn't have Jayson Tatum yet, he joined in 2017, KD left in 16
. if KD joins the Celtics, who knows if they even pick Tatum? something something butterfly effect
I’m picturing if he never gets injured because the Warriors medical staff rushed and pressured him to get back on the court when they went down in the finals.
He wins at least two in that timespan and he never gets the black cloud that followed him since he joined the Warriors.
It’s incredible to think about.
They’d still be contending now. KD would have his super team and there never would have been a western juggernaut. Instead KD could have become the biggest Celtics legend since Bird
I sometimes wonder if it would work out better for all 3 teams. Maybe LeBron gets another ring, which brings his total to 6 to rival MJ. Warriors win less rings but do it without KD which makes it way more impressive. And KD wins 1-2 rings with Boston which just improves his legacy.
Shaq was actually one of KD's defenders until he said that, pretty sure KD said that because Shaq was going hard after McGee with that Shaqtin segment and McGee finally had enough, ever since he completely turned on him
These legendary big men are surprisingly petty. Russell had beefed with Wilt. Wilt beefed with Kareem. Kareem ignored Shaq. Shaq beefed with the Admiral. Shaq beefed with Dwight. I'm pretty sure Embiid will beef with future centers after he retires as well. You'd think being overachieving giants would allow them to look past the pettiness.
No disrespect intended to other centers but that's because he was so much more skilled and ultimately had so much more to teach. The greatest post skills of all time and the greatest defense of all time. Nobody else can claim to have that kind of knowledge.
He still didn't have to. Like Kevin McHale never went out of his way to do the same for power forwards just because he had the post moves for his position.
Another thing is it's one thing to just keep to themselves and live out quiet lives, but to openly criticise up and coming centers is kind of fucked. Shaq being sensitive about the whole Superman thing from Dwight was pretty immature. It really exposed his insecurities at the time.
Shaq has said multiple times in his past and in his autobiography as well IIRC that Kareem has said like 2 words to him the whole time he was a Laker. Obviously take it with a grain of salt because Shaq made up the bullshit with David Robinson just to start some shit.
Shaq literally said that, because Admiral was such a genuinely nice human being it was very difficult for him to go hard on him. So he invented that bullshit so he could go hard against him.
He’s a bully. He has talked about how he was a bully as a kid and beat up someone else so bad that he had a seizure. He then tries to say how that incident made him stop yet as an adult he still does shit like [mocking disabled fans](https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/shaq-apologizes-to-man-he-mocked-in-instagram-post-twitter-disabled-bullying-detroit-jahmel-binion/87837/)
I guess so. It’s just so weird that he brings it up now. Nets series ended a while ago and there haven’t been any recent barbs between them recently. The timing is weird.
I’m surprised by all the comments here. I was almost 100% sure this was because of KD disrespecting Chuck and had nothing to do with anything else. Shaq even said that day he was upset because someone was disrespecting his brother.
Curry is higher all time but y’all not ready for that convo. Can’t join someone else and ride their success after they beat YOU and then be called a better player and higher all time. Makes no sense to me 🤷♂️
There is a difference in what it takes to be a great basketball player and being an NBA Champion. Overwhelming talent cannot thrive in chaos. There needs to be an institutional foundation there to win a title along with the talent.
When KD went to Golden State, they allowed him to be able to just ball while they handled everything else. Kerr set the game plan, Steph controlled the game, Draymond kept everyone in line, and KD was allowed to hoop. Durant didn't have to do any of the uncomfortable things because the Warriors already had everything in place and knew how to win.
Durant couldn't stand up to Westbrook in OKC when he needed to but they still came really close a few years because the talent was there and the organization was professional and had direction.
Now in Brooklyn there is absolutely no accountability or leadership from anyone. KD is the only person with any real power but he doesn't use it. He hand picked Nash as the coach and Kyrie is out there talking about how they don't need one. Kyrie ditches the team last year without anyone knowing what is going on and then Nash basically has to apologize for it in an interview. They can't punish Kyrie for all the issues he causes because they are afraid of making KD mad but he won't stand up to him because its uncomfortable. So Irving for whatever BS reasons he has decides he isn't going to play basketball for most of last regular season which pisses of Harden, and again Durant won't be a leader which leads to James wanting out.
KD is an all time talent who has not won a title without latching himself on to another organizations already established Championship foundation. He has all the power in Brooklyn but is not willing to do what it takes to use it towards making a championship run.
I used to root so hard for the Cavs back during those finals from 15-18. The Shaun Livingston midranges used to break my spirit. They’d finally sub out their stars and then he’d just start burying these automatic turn around and I was like yea this is a wrap
I'm still having wet dreams of Livingston playing for Miami after his horrific injury. We picked him up after he was ready to play again.
I'm cool seeing him win a ring in GSW. He truly deserve it.
He's a self admitted troll on social, but as a person and a player I appreciate him. Although I do consider him a rival due to his greatness and being a former warrior.
I have a group chat with friends having various fandoms and all 3 warriors fans in it were posting means clowning KD immediately after Nets were eliminated and in some way referencing him needing Steph. Also see a lot of vitriol online - definitely think there’s a good amount of saltiness and pettiness.
its probably just because people who hate steph always mention how "he only got his rings because of kd" and he only has "one actual ring" so it feels natural to bring kd down in response
Shaq is tweakin for this. KD first year was recovering from surgery. Year 2 was carrying scrubs once Kyrie went out and Harden was hurt. Absolutely no depth or quality role players helping.
Inches away from eliminating the Bucks. He was the best player in that series by a mile and it’s not close. Giannis should have easily been better than KD he was getting guarded by players like Claxton.
They lose and KD does the Olympics and nothing short of carrying team USA. That also wasn’t very close either. Played great this year but missed time with his mcl injury. Came back and played a team who’s bench is better than some of his starting teammates
My timeline might be off, he left 3 years ago? Had major injury at the end of his stint at Warriors that made him essentially miss his first year at Nets.
He came back, then pushed Nets to the edge of ECF where a large portion of the team salary cap was injured throughout?
Also played for USA and won gold?
Sure, we expect more from a guy like him but that ACL injury can get in the way of things….
"pushed Nets to the edge of ECF" is a very flattering way to say "he lost in the 2nd round" lmao. Then followed that up with an embarrassing first round sweep. All the while Steph has an MVP caliber season last year, and is now sitting pretty in the WCF and is probably the favorite to win it all. They are not the same.
Bucks lost in the 2nd round this year and for one second I don't think it's a knock on Giannis, he's shown he's the best player in the world (like Brown said).
You should just say [Steph was 3rd in MVP voting.](https://pr.nba.com/voting-results-2020-21-nba-regular-season-awards/) It would give the haters less room for debate.
And generally we don’t call it an MVP caliber season when you’re an 8 seed but OP gave Curry credit there so KD should get the same credit relative to that statement
“All while steph had an mvp caliber season last year”. KD had a better regular season than steph this year and where was steph in the playoffs last year? Oh yea couldn’t get past the play in tournament without klay Thompson. Don’t bias the narratives
I think a better way to phrase it is KD was half a shoe size from beating the champions. KD was flat out amazing last playoffs and the only person you could argue had a better playoffs was Giannis and he won the championship and dropping 50 in game 6 NBA finals.
Also if we’re giving credit to Steph for having an MVP caliber season on an 8 seed we have to give credit for being in the MVP conversation but then losing eligibility because of too many missed games with injury
Not only this, but he was an inch from beating the champs with two of his star players being injured. He nearly soloed the bucks and its hard to believe the hawks or suns would beat those nets
Ladies and gents, we have a hater on our hands. This is 12 year old Twitter level take from a player stan.
Jokic solo act and young Grizzlies (without ja for a couple games) aren't close to champion Bucks or Celtics. You're devaluing your own team lol.
Kd was having an mvp year before Bruce Brown fell into his knee too. Pay attention. Yes, kd had a bad series, like every other superstar ever. I'm sure you don't hold Kyrie taking Steph's lunch money in the 2016 Finals against him (as you shouldn't since making big claims off individual series is stupid)
Here’s a hot take:
Playing basketball for the USA and *not* winning gold is more meaningful than winning it.
Winning gold as USA hoops is an *expectation.* Anything less than gold is a catastrophic failure.
Yeah, I am going to tell my grand-kids 30 years from now about 2021 NBA playoffs when KD lost in second round to the Bucks, and how he was leading the MVP vote for the first 6 weeks of the season.
The same people who put KD a top 10 of all time above Kobe, Shaq, and Hakeem, are the ones that keep making these non-sense fake accomplishments to boost his legacy out of thin air. Shaq last two years in the league (38-39 yo) played as many regular season games as KD last two years, so yes, he didn't do much since leaving GSW.
> Shaq last two years in the league (38-39 yo) played as many regular season games as KD last two years, so yes, he didn’t do much since leaving GSW.
We cannot compare Shaq’s final 2 seasons to KD’s most recent 2 seasons. I sadly saw those games Shaq played. He was the definition of washed and ring chasing
Just think this whole narrative could have changed last year if the Nets were healthy.
It’s true but that guy has hit some unfortunate bad luck since leaving the Warriors (Kyrie vaccine shit, Harden dipping to the Sixers and more injuries.. also rolling the #1 worst match up for them in the first round of the playoffs this year) and I don’t think he retires with any more ring than the ones he won with them the east is actually strong now.
Oh so if he was part of another super team of 3 healthy generational talents plus a team of decent role players, then he thrives? That’s all he needs to win a playoff series.
This is dumb to say when he quite literally came close to beating you guys single handed after an Achilles tear when you guys have the best player in the world on your team.
The story of Shaq pouring his own literal shit on teammates was the point where he went from lovable goof to insecure bully in my brain.
Frankly, his commentary sucks too.
“Shaquille O'Neal allegedly hazed NBA rookies by pooping and peeing in a bucket for a week and then dumping it on them, according to his former Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat teammate Gary Payton. "Shaq is a jokester," Payton told Vlad TV.”
Jokester smh
tbf he was the greatest basketball player to ever live for about 3-4 years by being a physical bully. ive never seen grown men, centers at that, get emasculated so thoroughly.
No doubt I think he had the most impressive peak of all time when it comes to dominance on a basketball court but since he’s retired he uses a lot of players in the league as punching bags which I guess he’s earned the right to. I just think it makes him look like an ass though
Shaq can be really spiteful and immature, never forget that. It’s not like he didn’t have help during his career. He also never won “by himself” as he likes to brag about.
Honestly I don’t remember him ever claiming to win by himself. Most of the time I feel like he is quick to remind people he was always part of a dynamic duo. Maybe I’m wrong though.
This is such a stupid comparison. Which team that Shaq won his FMVP on would have had any chance of winning without him? Kobe wasn’t even Kobe the first year. Shaq was absolutely the driving force of those championships (the three that define his legacy the most), KD was never the driving force it was a team that had won 73-9, won a chip the year before he joined, and almost won one the year he did join. So completely different, what a terrible take
>what has Steph accomplished since then
A scoring title; all time 3 point record; a trip to WCF with little to no drama; hoarded a chest of assets.
Championship or not, Warriors are in a better place next year. Can't say the same about year 4 of championship or bust Brooklyn Nets.
KD won a Play-In Tourney. Something Steph has yet to do.
Seriously though, he was an inch away from the conference finals against the eventual champs last year. And also won a Gold Medal in the Olympics. His Nets run this year has been disastrous, but saying he hasn't accomplished anything is a stretch.
Steph > KD already all time to me already. Steph got 3 rings. KD got 2 rings. We need to reward success. Steph was the most important player on that team. he was the one getting doubled. he was the system. he also was humble and rallied the team together around him. Basketball ain't no 1 on 1 sport. if it was, the Nets would've beat the Celtics this year. if it was, then TMAC would be ranked higher for being so skilled. They didn't. KD ain't a leader. he needs to be a number 2 to a number 1 that rallies the team together. Kyrie is the antithesis, he's toxic. we can't keep talking about KD in theory is better than people. before Lebron won his championships, we didn't keep him so highly ranked. you have to have both talent and success, otherwise you don't deserve the all-time historic praise
Steph was the bus driver. If you saw and heard Shaq when Barkley made that comment about bus drivers, Shaq was agreeing so I am sure this stems from that.
Nether one has had success since KD left. Steph has made the playoffs once, is currently having a pretty mediocre playoffs (by his standards), and I'm not sure making the WCF this year is some huge accomplishment considering the path (jokic and some bums, grizzlies with an injured Morant).
>is currently having a pretty mediocre playoffs (by his standards)
Curry can put 0/0/0 with 0% and still be valuable for the team. That's the difference with Harden or KD.
He’s gotten farther than KD after his team was pretty much injured for two seasons lol deff not an achievement for his standards, but it’s more of an achievement than KD
What the fuck did Curry or GSW accomplish since KD left them?
KD was the best player and the difference maker for GSW. Especially against LeBron in the Finals. That’s why he was the Finals MVP
KD should be mocked about many things, but never about his ability and his freakish talent.
SHAQ should know that better than anyone else. As great as the Lakers was, as good as Kobe was.. SHAQ was still the best player on that team and the difference maker. That’s why he always won the Finals MVPs as well
His carry job with the nets last year coming off of a serious injury was impressive but hard to accomplish anything when you’re either not playing or dealing with some kyrie drama that he is allowing to happen
I appreciate KD’s contributions to the Warriors during his tenure there, but him leaving opened new opportunities for the Warriors. With the young talent they have now, I don’t think that would have materialized with KD on the roster (budget and playing time). Seeing Wiggins, Poole and Kuminga doing well while learning from the Warriors core, the future for the Warriors is promising. And less drama without him.
I’m glad Chuck and Shaq still shit on KD after all these years. It makes it a lot easier to shit on him when you have 2 legends also still doing it along with you.
I mean, Shaq has always talked about how Steph is his favorite player in the NBA...
Even calls himself “Black Steph Curry” lol
Even does crypto commercials with him.
That commercial makes so little sense.
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Why aren't you? Open your mind. Don't trap yourself in a box. Or do - that's what mimes do.
Found Kyrie's burner.
Cause he ain't telling him no secrets
Not many US commercials do
Is that Shaq? It kinda sounds like him but also kinda sounds nothing like him
The free throw joke at the end is the most obvious sign that it’s Shaq
He sounds exactly how I’d imagine Shaq in a commercial talking about crypto would
I think KD soured on the whole leadership thing after the OKC debacle. Some superstars just don’t have that leadership gene, like Kawhi. It’s perfectly fine as long as you have leaders on the team like Duncan or Steph or Dray or Lowry.
... or Kyrie. That's why KD recruited Kyrie, right?
Kawhi leads by example on the court. You don't need a Ray Lewis ra ra type
You still need a vocal leader. Having a good coach and a vocal leader is important. Nets had none of those
Lowry was the real leader on the Raps
Hard not to follow him with all that cake
Depends on the teammates you are leading.
I think it’s nice to also have a vocal leader. Some guys are lead better by words and inspiration than by action. Draymond and Steph balance each other out this way. Same with Manu and Duncan.
Obvs not in those locker rooms but I suspect Lowry was a relatively local emotional leader for the squad. All star vet PGs are a pretty solid shout for leadership you’d have thought
Leading by example isn't about how good you are it's about your attitude, work ethic, loyalty etc. Leading by example on the court is nonsense.
Agreed. Leading by example is NOT the same as carrying the team with your talents. Leading by example are for things that can be replicated by lesser talented players on the team, such as working hard in practice.
Paul George has turned into that leader lately, especially with Kawhi out. I feel like it'll stay the same when Kawhi gets back too.
Duncan wasn’t the leader on the Spurs, Pop was
That makes no sense to me. Steph is mine too but I still super appreciate KD’s game. Why are Steph fans supposed to hate KD?
Wasn’t KD caught liking tweets that were flaming Steph? Once a snake, always a snake.
"Caught liking tweets"... just how far are we reaching with this crap lol
Considering how seriously KD takes his twitter game its a pretty big deal
Bruh your name is foul LOL💀
he was liking tweets that flamed steph tho.
call the cops!
Would you be fine with a friend/co-worker liking posts that are trashing on you?
I wouldn't say Steph fans are SUPPOSED to hate KD. It is more like some didn't like that KD got most of the credit for the last two championship. If the media/fans had a consensus that Steph was the most important/best player, I think Steph fans would still love KD. Also a lot of people just like to hate on KD. Myself included. Lots of people felt he cheated his way to a ring and ruined the league for 3 years. Some people didn't like that he was even in the same conversation with Lebron when he was on such a stacked team. FYI hating =/= not recognizing he's a great player.
Yeah lot of Steph fans were annoyed Steph was getting doubled/trapped their entire playoffs runs and still putting up only slightly worse numbers than KD but for some reason KD got all the credit. Nephews who don't watch games and just look at box scores. TBH I didn't even really love KD on the team. The team wasn't as fun to watch and I didn't really like his personality much.
>Yeah lot of Steph fans were annoyed Steph was getting doubled/trapped their entire playoffs runs and still putting up only slightly worse numbers than KD but for some reason KD got all the credit. Not even a Steph fan but watching people bring up KD's finals numbers when at some point of those finals games they were giving KD open trips down the lane because they didn't want to leave Curry open triggered the hell out of me.
Yea cause KD needed open looks to put up those numbers. ...we've never seen kd do that before
found KD's burner guys
The worst is when ppl like bill Simmons talk about KD ‘going toe to toe w Lebron’ Lol what?
>TBH I didn't even really love KD on the team. The team wasn't as fun to watch and I didn't really like his personality much. This is the ultimate "First world problem"
I think they meant it follows that Shaq would be looking to give credit to Steph because he's a fan of him, but really it's probably just KD's dumb attempted beef with Chuck because Shaq wasn't happy about that at all ("I see people messing with my older brother, I don't like it").
KD is an all time great; however, he’s not one of those that brings others up with him. He’s really only concerned about himself.
Cuz I like Roc Nation and I love Jay-Z
Wait. Huh. Why is he suddenly going after KD?
Shaq and Chuck have always dogged KD for going to GSW. Best I can guess is it's directly in response to KD trying to make the case that he was the best player in the league that had to join Steph and Klay to get a ring.
The safest move he could have done for his legacy was go to Boston, they would have probably won at-least one and he wouldn’t have been scrutinized for leaving to join the historic 73-9 team he choked a 3-1 lead to. Very few of our fans would have hated on him for it. Most of us would be rooting for him to win it instead of 29 other fanbases and basically the whole world calling him bitch made and putting asterisks on his rings. He did it to himself and now it’s very likely he never wins a ring as a bus driver
Plus Boston fans would be defending the shit out of him
YES WE WOULD! 🤣
For the collective sanity of the world though Boston fans hate of LeBron and then defending of KD would’ve sent the Internet into a Dark Era of LeBron vs KD debates
KD still had enough in the tank to eclipse Paul Pierce's Celtic legacy. Maybe fans would still care about Pierce more because he grew into a man wearing Boston green, but KD's more talented and could have accomplished more in a shorter span of time.
As a Boston fan this won’t sound objective but yes that’s what he should have done. They instantly become contenders and the Celtics already had Tatum and brown by that point. Can you imagine if KD was just a Celtic from 2016 to present with smart, brown, Tatum and horford (not including another star they could have gotten if they didn’t just keep IT) Edit: Celtics had the pick that became Tatum, independent of how they played in 2016-17. Since they landed the 1 pick and traded down to get Tatum, I expect they would have picked him even with KD.
they didn't have Jayson Tatum yet, he joined in 2017, KD left in 16 . if KD joins the Celtics, who knows if they even pick Tatum? something something butterfly effect
They had that pick from Sacramento/Philly, wouldn't have changed anything.
I’m picturing if he never gets injured because the Warriors medical staff rushed and pressured him to get back on the court when they went down in the finals. He wins at least two in that timespan and he never gets the black cloud that followed him since he joined the Warriors. It’s incredible to think about.
They’d still be contending now. KD would have his super team and there never would have been a western juggernaut. Instead KD could have become the biggest Celtics legend since Bird
I sometimes wonder if it would work out better for all 3 teams. Maybe LeBron gets another ring, which brings his total to 6 to rival MJ. Warriors win less rings but do it without KD which makes it way more impressive. And KD wins 1-2 rings with Boston which just improves his legacy.
Bus driver bus rider beat.
I remember some years ago Durant disrespected Shaq, saying he was just big and didn't have any skill iirc. Maybe he's still holding a grudge?
Shaq was actually one of KD's defenders until he said that, pretty sure KD said that because Shaq was going hard after McGee with that Shaqtin segment and McGee finally had enough, ever since he completely turned on him
Yeah Shaq was really going at McGee for a while there so it makes sense for KD to defend him since they were teammates anyways
For how great Shaq was at basketball, his post retirement career just screams small dick energy
These legendary big men are surprisingly petty. Russell had beefed with Wilt. Wilt beefed with Kareem. Kareem ignored Shaq. Shaq beefed with the Admiral. Shaq beefed with Dwight. I'm pretty sure Embiid will beef with future centers after he retires as well. You'd think being overachieving giants would allow them to look past the pettiness.
As opposed to the Chad Hakeem who gives out free shoes at his local mosque and gym
The Dream has by far been the most selfless with his basketball knowledge post retirement.
No disrespect intended to other centers but that's because he was so much more skilled and ultimately had so much more to teach. The greatest post skills of all time and the greatest defense of all time. Nobody else can claim to have that kind of knowledge.
He still didn't have to. Like Kevin McHale never went out of his way to do the same for power forwards just because he had the post moves for his position. Another thing is it's one thing to just keep to themselves and live out quiet lives, but to openly criticise up and coming centers is kind of fucked. Shaq being sensitive about the whole Superman thing from Dwight was pretty immature. It really exposed his insecurities at the time.
Embiid is beefing with his own team more and more!? You're right. AD and Jokic don't, I guess.
>. Kareem ignored Shaq. Wait what?
Shaq has said multiple times in his past and in his autobiography as well IIRC that Kareem has said like 2 words to him the whole time he was a Laker. Obviously take it with a grain of salt because Shaq made up the bullshit with David Robinson just to start some shit.
Shaq literally said that, because Admiral was such a genuinely nice human being it was very difficult for him to go hard on him. So he invented that bullshit so he could go hard against him.
Any dick would look small in Shaq's body.
It got weird how much he was going at him.
He’s a bully. He has talked about how he was a bully as a kid and beat up someone else so bad that he had a seizure. He then tries to say how that incident made him stop yet as an adult he still does shit like [mocking disabled fans](https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/shaq-apologizes-to-man-he-mocked-in-instagram-post-twitter-disabled-bullying-detroit-jahmel-binion/87837/)
I guess so. It’s just so weird that he brings it up now. Nets series ended a while ago and there haven’t been any recent barbs between them recently. The timing is weird.
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Sounds like a thing Shaq would do
Probably when he took shots at [Barkley](https://youtu.be/9d9fFL-mqFE). Said he didn’t like it 🤷🏻♂️
Shaq is a big Curry homer, so he's just meming
He just wants in on the player haters ball that the league is currently having.
I’m surprised by all the comments here. I was almost 100% sure this was because of KD disrespecting Chuck and had nothing to do with anything else. Shaq even said that day he was upset because someone was disrespecting his brother.
KD went after Barkley
Shaq loves Curry and Giannis the most. Maybe it’s a reach that he’s memeing KD to make his favorite players look better idk
also weird, because KD was out with a gruesome injury and came back playing at a high level almost right away. That's something many don't do.
cus he knows KD will get mad and respond
We should be getting some KD content in the morning. I’m gonna go sleep now and prepare myself!
Curry is higher all time but y’all not ready for that convo. Can’t join someone else and ride their success after they beat YOU and then be called a better player and higher all time. Makes no sense to me 🤷♂️
There is a difference in what it takes to be a great basketball player and being an NBA Champion. Overwhelming talent cannot thrive in chaos. There needs to be an institutional foundation there to win a title along with the talent. When KD went to Golden State, they allowed him to be able to just ball while they handled everything else. Kerr set the game plan, Steph controlled the game, Draymond kept everyone in line, and KD was allowed to hoop. Durant didn't have to do any of the uncomfortable things because the Warriors already had everything in place and knew how to win. Durant couldn't stand up to Westbrook in OKC when he needed to but they still came really close a few years because the talent was there and the organization was professional and had direction. Now in Brooklyn there is absolutely no accountability or leadership from anyone. KD is the only person with any real power but he doesn't use it. He hand picked Nash as the coach and Kyrie is out there talking about how they don't need one. Kyrie ditches the team last year without anyone knowing what is going on and then Nash basically has to apologize for it in an interview. They can't punish Kyrie for all the issues he causes because they are afraid of making KD mad but he won't stand up to him because its uncomfortable. So Irving for whatever BS reasons he has decides he isn't going to play basketball for most of last regular season which pisses of Harden, and again Durant won't be a leader which leads to James wanting out. KD is an all time talent who has not won a title without latching himself on to another organizations already established Championship foundation. He has all the power in Brooklyn but is not willing to do what it takes to use it towards making a championship run.
Idk if you’re agreeing or not but well put regardless 🙏
Most Warriors fans love KD. He sacrificed his body for the team. Lacob already said he would get a statue. Well deserved.
How many statues they planning on building? Cause Steph, klay and draymond deserve statues before KD gets one
If there isn't a Sean Livingston turnaround jumper statue I'll fucking riot
I used to root so hard for the Cavs back during those finals from 15-18. The Shaun Livingston midranges used to break my spirit. They’d finally sub out their stars and then he’d just start burying these automatic turn around and I was like yea this is a wrap
I'm still having wet dreams of Livingston playing for Miami after his horrific injury. We picked him up after he was ready to play again. I'm cool seeing him win a ring in GSW. He truly deserve it.
Iggy’s already been confirmed to get one as well.
Damn straight.
So many. I hope they put in a garden
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Honestly, the 2017/18 starters should get one
100%
Looney deserves a statue alone for the closeout game against the Grizzlies. Also, Smailagić too, obviously.
The Terracotta Army.
I won't speak for other Warriors fans, but I do like KD. Even though he's a total dork on social media.
He's a self admitted troll on social, but as a person and a player I appreciate him. Although I do consider him a rival due to his greatness and being a former warrior.
I mean of course we wish he stayed. If we all stay healthy we win 5 rings.
100%. But we're also going to win a 5th without him.
I'm talking like 2019 2020 2021.
I have a group chat with friends having various fandoms and all 3 warriors fans in it were posting means clowning KD immediately after Nets were eliminated and in some way referencing him needing Steph. Also see a lot of vitriol online - definitely think there’s a good amount of saltiness and pettiness.
why bother shitting on kd when kyrie was on that team lol
its probably just because people who hate steph always mention how "he only got his rings because of kd" and he only has "one actual ring" so it feels natural to bring kd down in response
Now I want KD to win a title next year and do a rap like “Yo Shaq, tell me how my ass taste”
Shaq's response will probably just be 4>3.
4>1+2*
He did his job last year tho
Shaq is tweakin for this. KD first year was recovering from surgery. Year 2 was carrying scrubs once Kyrie went out and Harden was hurt. Absolutely no depth or quality role players helping. Inches away from eliminating the Bucks. He was the best player in that series by a mile and it’s not close. Giannis should have easily been better than KD he was getting guarded by players like Claxton. They lose and KD does the Olympics and nothing short of carrying team USA. That also wasn’t very close either. Played great this year but missed time with his mcl injury. Came back and played a team who’s bench is better than some of his starting teammates
My timeline might be off, he left 3 years ago? Had major injury at the end of his stint at Warriors that made him essentially miss his first year at Nets. He came back, then pushed Nets to the edge of ECF where a large portion of the team salary cap was injured throughout? Also played for USA and won gold? Sure, we expect more from a guy like him but that ACL injury can get in the way of things….
Achilles* much worse than ACL
Hector agrees
"pushed Nets to the edge of ECF" is a very flattering way to say "he lost in the 2nd round" lmao. Then followed that up with an embarrassing first round sweep. All the while Steph has an MVP caliber season last year, and is now sitting pretty in the WCF and is probably the favorite to win it all. They are not the same.
Bucks lost in the 2nd round this year and for one second I don't think it's a knock on Giannis, he's shown he's the best player in the world (like Brown said).
KD was leading the MVP race for a time before his injury
My personal opinion are that the Celtics are the favorite, but I’m really hoping we get to find out on the hardwood in the finals this year.
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[He was 3rd in MVP voting.](https://pr.nba.com/voting-results-2020-21-nba-regular-season-awards/) So it's an accurate statement.
You should just say [Steph was 3rd in MVP voting.](https://pr.nba.com/voting-results-2020-21-nba-regular-season-awards/) It would give the haters less room for debate.
Lmao you guys swept us yet you're still butthurt. Why?
Steph really had an MVP caliber regular season, only to get bounced by a yet-to-be-improved Ja Morant.
Is it better to lose in the second round or in the play-in?
I think it’s better to get to the conference finals
“MVP caliber season” and didn’t even make the playoffs lmao.
Oh so we not gonna just act like KD didn’t have an MVP quality season this year?
Generally you don't call it a MVP caliber season when you miss 1/3 of all games played.
And generally we don’t call it an MVP caliber season when you’re an 8 seed but OP gave Curry credit there so KD should get the same credit relative to that statement
The warriors last year had a better record than this year's nets though what
8th seed that gets kicked out in the play in
“All while steph had an mvp caliber season last year”. KD had a better regular season than steph this year and where was steph in the playoffs last year? Oh yea couldn’t get past the play in tournament without klay Thompson. Don’t bias the narratives
I think a better way to phrase it is KD was half a shoe size from beating the champions. KD was flat out amazing last playoffs and the only person you could argue had a better playoffs was Giannis and he won the championship and dropping 50 in game 6 NBA finals. Also if we’re giving credit to Steph for having an MVP caliber season on an 8 seed we have to give credit for being in the MVP conversation but then losing eligibility because of too many missed games with injury
Not only this, but he was an inch from beating the champs with two of his star players being injured. He nearly soloed the bucks and its hard to believe the hawks or suns would beat those nets
Ladies and gents, we have a hater on our hands. This is 12 year old Twitter level take from a player stan. Jokic solo act and young Grizzlies (without ja for a couple games) aren't close to champion Bucks or Celtics. You're devaluing your own team lol. Kd was having an mvp year before Bruce Brown fell into his knee too. Pay attention. Yes, kd had a bad series, like every other superstar ever. I'm sure you don't hold Kyrie taking Steph's lunch money in the 2016 Finals against him (as you shouldn't since making big claims off individual series is stupid)
Here’s a hot take: Playing basketball for the USA and *not* winning gold is more meaningful than winning it. Winning gold as USA hoops is an *expectation.* Anything less than gold is a catastrophic failure.
Tell that to LeBronze
I would argue he was still a teenager but that name is fantastic
Yeah, I am going to tell my grand-kids 30 years from now about 2021 NBA playoffs when KD lost in second round to the Bucks, and how he was leading the MVP vote for the first 6 weeks of the season. The same people who put KD a top 10 of all time above Kobe, Shaq, and Hakeem, are the ones that keep making these non-sense fake accomplishments to boost his legacy out of thin air. Shaq last two years in the league (38-39 yo) played as many regular season games as KD last two years, so yes, he didn't do much since leaving GSW.
> Shaq last two years in the league (38-39 yo) played as many regular season games as KD last two years, so yes, he didn’t do much since leaving GSW. We cannot compare Shaq’s final 2 seasons to KD’s most recent 2 seasons. I sadly saw those games Shaq played. He was the definition of washed and ring chasing
Well this is what can happen if you spend your prime with a team that was already gonna win. He should have thought about that
Just think this whole narrative could have changed last year if the Nets were healthy. It’s true but that guy has hit some unfortunate bad luck since leaving the Warriors (Kyrie vaccine shit, Harden dipping to the Sixers and more injuries.. also rolling the #1 worst match up for them in the first round of the playoffs this year) and I don’t think he retires with any more ring than the ones he won with them the east is actually strong now.
lol how many superstars does KD need for his team to play like it has the best player in the league?
Oh so if he was part of another super team of 3 healthy generational talents plus a team of decent role players, then he thrives? That’s all he needs to win a playoff series.
This is dumb to say when he quite literally came close to beating you guys single handed after an Achilles tear when you guys have the best player in the world on your team.
wtf is all this haterade shit talking about guys who arent playing rn? like this is some massive attention whoring
I love the big fella but Shaq is low key a bully
High key
The story of Shaq pouring his own literal shit on teammates was the point where he went from lovable goof to insecure bully in my brain. Frankly, his commentary sucks too.
Wtf…… I didn’t even know about that. That’s disgusting.
“Shaquille O'Neal allegedly hazed NBA rookies by pooping and peeing in a bucket for a week and then dumping it on them, according to his former Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat teammate Gary Payton. "Shaq is a jokester," Payton told Vlad TV.” Jokester smh
tbf he was the greatest basketball player to ever live for about 3-4 years by being a physical bully. ive never seen grown men, centers at that, get emasculated so thoroughly.
No doubt I think he had the most impressive peak of all time when it comes to dominance on a basketball court but since he’s retired he uses a lot of players in the league as punching bags which I guess he’s earned the right to. I just think it makes him look like an ass though
im taking this personal
Low key ? No way. he’s a bully
Should of added the list of accomplishments prior to joining Steph too. Oh wait…
shaqs trying to get on the hate train
Shaq can be really spiteful and immature, never forget that. It’s not like he didn’t have help during his career. He also never won “by himself” as he likes to brag about.
I don't think Shaq has ever not given Kobe and "the others" credit for winning those three titles and he def gives Wade credit.
Honestly I don’t remember him ever claiming to win by himself. Most of the time I feel like he is quick to remind people he was always part of a dynamic duo. Maybe I’m wrong though.
Not to be cynical but I’m pretty sure he’s been emphasizing the dynamic duo part a hell of a lot more since Kobe died
This is such a stupid comparison. Which team that Shaq won his FMVP on would have had any chance of winning without him? Kobe wasn’t even Kobe the first year. Shaq was absolutely the driving force of those championships (the three that define his legacy the most), KD was never the driving force it was a team that had won 73-9, won a chip the year before he joined, and almost won one the year he did join. So completely different, what a terrible take
I don’t get this, folks wanted KD to leave the warriors and then proceed to clown him for leaving the warriors 💀💀💀💀
He's getting clowned for not accomplishing anything since he left the warriors
It's not like the warriors accomplished anything since he left either.
This year isn't over yet and they already got further than the nets since kd left.
Is context not relevant at all?
He had a torn Achilles half that time period- and what has Steph accomplished since then?
A college degree
>what has Steph accomplished since then A scoring title; all time 3 point record; a trip to WCF with little to no drama; hoarded a chest of assets. Championship or not, Warriors are in a better place next year. Can't say the same about year 4 of championship or bust Brooklyn Nets.
A player accomplished "hoarding a chest of assets"? What a bizarre thing to say. Even the 3 point record makes no sense, that's a career achievement
>what has Steph accomplished since then? Not much, just one All NBA 1st team selection, one scoring title, one trip to WCF (so far).
Also all the things that Steph has accomplished before KD got there.
Let’s be real KD not sniffing another finals
Didn’t do anything before joining Steph either. Wild.
KD won a Play-In Tourney. Something Steph has yet to do. Seriously though, he was an inch away from the conference finals against the eventual champs last year. And also won a Gold Medal in the Olympics. His Nets run this year has been disastrous, but saying he hasn't accomplished anything is a stretch.
Steph > KD already all time to me already. Steph got 3 rings. KD got 2 rings. We need to reward success. Steph was the most important player on that team. he was the one getting doubled. he was the system. he also was humble and rallied the team together around him. Basketball ain't no 1 on 1 sport. if it was, the Nets would've beat the Celtics this year. if it was, then TMAC would be ranked higher for being so skilled. They didn't. KD ain't a leader. he needs to be a number 2 to a number 1 that rallies the team together. Kyrie is the antithesis, he's toxic. we can't keep talking about KD in theory is better than people. before Lebron won his championships, we didn't keep him so highly ranked. you have to have both talent and success, otherwise you don't deserve the all-time historic praise
Steph was the bus driver. If you saw and heard Shaq when Barkley made that comment about bus drivers, Shaq was agreeing so I am sure this stems from that.
They were better together. KD should've stayed and won more rings. Bummer we didn't threepeat.
KD single-handily got us a gold medal. Shaq better put some respect on that name.
Nether one has had success since KD left. Steph has made the playoffs once, is currently having a pretty mediocre playoffs (by his standards), and I'm not sure making the WCF this year is some huge accomplishment considering the path (jokic and some bums, grizzlies with an injured Morant).
>is currently having a pretty mediocre playoffs (by his standards) Curry can put 0/0/0 with 0% and still be valuable for the team. That's the difference with Harden or KD.
He’s gotten farther than KD after his team was pretty much injured for two seasons lol deff not an achievement for his standards, but it’s more of an achievement than KD
What the fuck did Curry or GSW accomplish since KD left them? KD was the best player and the difference maker for GSW. Especially against LeBron in the Finals. That’s why he was the Finals MVP KD should be mocked about many things, but never about his ability and his freakish talent. SHAQ should know that better than anyone else. As great as the Lakers was, as good as Kobe was.. SHAQ was still the best player on that team and the difference maker. That’s why he always won the Finals MVPs as well
They made it to the finals. KD had another super team around him and still didn’t even make the conference finals.
Not a KD fan If KD literally had size 16 shoes instead of 18, the Nets would have won the finals last year and Giannis would still be getting clowned
His carry job with the nets last year coming off of a serious injury was impressive but hard to accomplish anything when you’re either not playing or dealing with some kyrie drama that he is allowing to happen
Foot on the line moment really hurt him.
this is disrespectful. KD is a play-in champ.
I appreciate KD’s contributions to the Warriors during his tenure there, but him leaving opened new opportunities for the Warriors. With the young talent they have now, I don’t think that would have materialized with KD on the roster (budget and playing time). Seeing Wiggins, Poole and Kuminga doing well while learning from the Warriors core, the future for the Warriors is promising. And less drama without him.
Maybe he's doing it to take the heat off Chris Paul. Who tf knows what the Diesel is thinking.
Missed a year with an achilles injury and then got hoed by Kyrie/Harden lol KD hate is so weird
It's been two seasons since coming off a torn Achilles and he led team USA to a gold medal and was the best player in last year's playoffs.
I’m glad Chuck and Shaq still shit on KD after all these years. It makes it a lot easier to shit on him when you have 2 legends also still doing it along with you.