Former Lakers Coach Assigns Blame to NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal

Former Lakers Coach Assigns Blame to NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Shaquille O’Neal, one of the most dominant centers in NBA history, redefined the role of the big man with his unparalleled combination of size, strength, and agility. Standing at 7’1″ and weighing over 300 pounds, O’Neal’s presence in the paint was both physically imposing and psychologically daunting for opponents. His ability to control the low post, protect the rim, and finish with authority made him a force to be reckoned with throughout his career.

During his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, O’Neal’s dominance reached its zenith. Teaming up with Kobe Bryant, O’Neal led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002, earning Finals MVP honors each time. His impact on the game was so profound that teams often had to devise entire game plans solely to contain him. Opposing coaches and players recognized that traditional defensive strategies were insufficient against a player of his caliber.

NBA analyst and former player Shaquille O’Neal. Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

In a recent interview with WBUR, former NBA head coach Mike D’Antoni shed light on how O’Neal’s dominance indirectly influenced the evolution of the game.

D’Antoni stated, “We always said among ourselves, you can’t out-Shaq, Shaq. You can’t just trot somebody out there and think you’re gonna get the best of Shaq. So we had to figure out a way to beat him. And that was to speed the game up, take more 3s and spread them out, and then they give us a chance to win.”

The move to halt O’Neal’s dominance might have marked the beginning of the NBA’s three-point revolution, per D’Antoni, who coached the Lakers for two seasons in the early 2010s. Coaches began to prioritize pace and space, encouraging players to take more shots from beyond the arc.

The logic was simple: by increasing the tempo and spreading the floor, teams could neutralize dominant interior players like O’Neal and exploit defensive mismatches. Over time, this approach gained traction, leading to a significant increase in three-point attempts across the league.

Today, the three-point shot is an integral part of NBA offenses. Teams regularly attempt dozens of threes per game, and players across all positions are expected to have range.