The studio lights of “The Big Podcast with Shaq” glowed softly, casting a warm halo around the imposing figure of Shaquille O’Neal. He shifted in his chair—a custom-built throne to accommodate his 7’1”, 325-pound frame—while his co-hosts and a special NBA guest chatted, prepping for another episode. On the table, microphones and water bottles stood ready. The mood was light, but today’s topic carried weight.
“We’re talking transformation,” announced the co-host, glancing at Shaq with a knowing smile. “Players who changed the NBA forever.”
On the screen behind them, a montage began: Shaq in his prime, shattering backboards, bullying defenders, celebrating with the swagger of a man who knew he was unstoppable. The guest narrated, “Shaq didn’t just dominate—he forced the league to rewrite the rules. He was the blueprint for physical power in basketball.”
Then, the footage shifted. Now, it was Stephen Curry: a wiry 6’2”, 185-pound guard, launching threes from the parking lot, weaving through giants, his mouthguard dangling from his lips. The contrast was stark—one man a mountain, the other a meteor.
The co-host turned to Shaq. “You always believed in power, Shaq. What did you think when this skinny kid started changing the game with his three-point shot?”
For a moment, Shaq’s trademark grin faded. He looked away, gathering himself. When he spoke, his deep voice was softer than usual. “I’m gonna be real with y’all. I didn’t believe it. I just didn’t.”
The room stilled. Shaq’s candor was rare, and everyone felt it.
“I came from the era of the paint,” he continued. “I was the Diesel, the Big Aristotle. My whole game was about imposing my will—dominating inside. I saw Steph, this kid from Davidson, and I thought, ‘Nah. This is a fad. No way this lasts.’”
The screen flashed to the 2009 NBA Draft. Shaq recounted how six teams passed on Curry before the Warriors took him. “I didn’t even notice,” Shaq admitted, shrugging. “To me, he was just another shooter. I’d seen plenty of those come and go.”
A series of clips played: Curry in his rookie years, his jersey hanging loose, limping off the court with ankle injuries. “When he started getting hurt, I thought, ‘See? This is what happens to little guys. They can’t handle the grind.’”
Shaq chuckled, shaking his head at his own stubbornness. “I even said it on TNT—shooting teams don’t win championships. I said three-point shooting was like a jab in boxing. It doesn’t knock anybody out.”
The montage moved to the Warriors’ rise, Curry’s ankle finally healthy, his range expanding. Shaq’s voice dropped. “Even when they started winning, I thought, ‘Okay, regular season is one thing. In the playoffs, when it gets physical, this style won’t work.’”
He looked around the studio, searching for understanding. “It wasn’t just me. Charles, Karl Malone, even MJ—we all doubted. We were the brotherhood of dinosaurs.”
Shaq spread his massive arms, as if to show how hard it was to believe that someone so much smaller could dominate. “When you’ve been big your whole life, it’s tough to understand how someone small can control the game. It’s against everything you’ve learned.”
On the screen, Curry drained threes, broke records, led the Warriors to a championship. “And still, I resisted,” Shaq said. “I kept making excuses. When the Warriors won in 2015, I said it was because of injuries to the other team. I just didn’t want to see what was happening.”
He leaned forward, voice thickening. “But then something changed. I was watching a game with my son, and he’s obsessed with Curry. He asked me, ‘Dad, why don’t you like Steph? Is it because he plays different than you?’ That hit me. Out of the mouth of a child, you know?”
The screen flashed to a photo of Shaq with his children. He paused, gathering himself. “I realized I was clinging to my legacy. My ego wouldn’t let me see greatness in a different form.”
He recounted a conversation with Dell Curry, Steph’s father, about Steph’s relentless training and the obstacles he’d overcome. “Dell told me how Steph had to work twice as hard because he wasn’t the biggest or the fastest. That stuck with me.”
A montage rolled: kids everywhere, copying Curry’s shooting form, not Shaq’s dunks. “That’s when I knew,” Shaq said, voice trembling. “Curry wasn’t just good. He was changing the DNA of basketball.”
He blinked, fighting emotion. “Look, it’s not easy for someone my size, with my ego, to admit this. But I was wrong about Steph. Not just about his skill, but about what greatness really means.”
The studio was silent. Even the guest, a seasoned NBA veteran, seemed moved.
Shaq went on, describing a private moment when he sought out Curry after an NBA event. “I wanted to look him in the eye and tell him I underestimated him. You know what he did? He smiled and said he grew up watching me play. That I was an inspiration to him, too.”
Shaq shook his head in awe. “The humility of that guy, after everything he’s achieved… It hit me hard.”
Clips played of Curry lifting trophies, breaking records, kids around the world imitating his shot. “I spent my whole career thinking there was only one way to be great—power, force. But Steph showed me there’s another kind. Precision is power. Skill is dominance.”
He looked directly into the camera. “As a player, as an analyst, I have a responsibility. I can’t stay stuck in the past. The game evolves. Now, when I see a little kid dreaming big, I remember Curry. Who am I to say he can’t?”
A hush fell over the studio. Shaq’s eyes glistened. Then, with a grin, he broke the tension. “But let’s be clear—if Curry tried to take me in the paint, it’d be a disaster for him!”
Laughter filled the room, but the lesson lingered. Shaq had grown, just as the game had. He’d learned that greatness comes in many forms, and sometimes, it takes humility to see it.
And somewhere, a new generation of kids—big and small—were dreaming, inspired not just by the way Curry played, but by the way Shaq learned to see.
‘I demand you fans to start putting Steph Curry in that greatest of all time conversation’ NBA legend Shaquille O’ Neal shares two cents on Curry in GOAT debate
The ongoing debate about the greatest basketball player of all time (GOAT) typically centers around three legendary names: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant.
The ongoing debate about the greatest basketball player of all time (GOAT) typically centers around three legendary names: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant. However, NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal believes it’s time for Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry to be included in that elite conversation.
During a segment on NBA on TNT, O’Neal expressed his frustration over Curry being overlooked in the GOAT debate. Having played against Michael Jordan, teamed up with Kobe Bryant, and both played with and faced LeBron James, Shaq firmly believes that Curry’s impact on the game is undeniable.
“I demand you fans to start putting Steph Curry in that greatest of all time conversation. I played against Mike, played with Kobe, played against and with LeBron. They’re all great, but at some point, we’re going to have to put Steph Curry in that category,” Shaq stated.
Gaining Support from NBA Legends
O’Neal is not alone in his stance. Phoenix Suns legend Steve Nash has also spoken highly of Curry, emphasizing his revolutionary influence on the game.
“I think in some ways he’s underappreciated. You know, his impact on the game, the way he was able to be an MVP and a champion in a new way, shooting impossible shots at a high percentage, the way he impacts defenses even when he doesn’t have the ball, like, it’s remarkable,” Nash said.
With high-profile endorsements from legendary figures in basketball, Curry’s influence and legacy continue to grow.
Curry’s Impressive Resume
Stephen Curry’s list of accomplishments further strengthens his case as one of the all-time greats. He is a four-time NBA champion, a two-time league MVP (2015 and 2016), an NBA Finals MVP in 2022, and an 11-time All-Star. His contributions to the game have been monumental, reshaping how basketball is played, especially with his three-point shooting prowess.
A Unique Player, But Is He the GOAT?
Despite his accolades, the discussion around Curry’s legacy often revolves around his playing style. On the To The Baha podcast, Theo Pinson acknowledged Curry’s greatness but suggested that he doesn’t fit the traditional mold of a point guard.
“I don’t think of Stephen Curry as [a point guard], but he is the best shooter of all time,” Pinson said, implying that Curry’s shoot-first approach sets him apart from conventional playmakers.
Curry had earlier received flak from another legend Michael Jordan calling him undeserving Hall of Famer.
