Shaquille O’Neal has some very serious opinions about the NBA and isn’t afraid to share them.

On the latest episode of “The Big Podcast,” via NBACentral, O’Neal went on a rant about how “soft” the league has become.

He said that many of the superstars today can’t really play and that the product of modern basketball isn’t great.

He also added that LeBron James’ longevity is a byproduct of how weak the league is right now and questioned if he’d be able to cut it in the 1980s and 90s.

You can imagine that these comments will once again strike up the conversation that compares past generations to this one.

Shaq goes OFF on the current era, saying LeBron’s longevity is a byproduct of how soft the league has become

He also claims that many players today couldn’t compete in past eras—especially players like Ben Simmons, who he says should be arrested for stealing $250 million 😳

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— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 4, 2025

O’Neal was fierce with his thoughts and wasn’t holding back.

He listed a few stars whom he believes can really play basketball and then suggested nearly everyone else can’t keep up.

He also said that Ben Simmons is ripping off the league by receiving such a big paycheck for such little output.

James has been the biggest name in sports for more than 20 years and has achieved just about every accomplishment in the NBA.

The fact that he is still doing so much at 40 years old is astonishing.

Still, some people wonder how he would have done if he were in previous decades.

O’Neal said those decades were much more physical and they wouldn’t allow James to be so dominant for so long.

Of course, there is no way to ever prove this and it’s an argument that literally cannot have an answer.

But that doesn’t stop people from talking and making statements like this.

O’Neal is still a major part of the NBA, so his words have an impact.

It’ll be interesting to see if anyone, including James, pushes back after this intense and fiery monologue.

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