NBA Analyst Shaquille O’Neal clarifies his criticism of Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell

Former Los Angeles Lakers legend and one of the greatest and most dominant centers of all time, Shaquille O’Neal has recently passed on a title to Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. Shaq feels that the baton of being the most dominant in the NBA should be passed from him to the Greek Freak for his exceptional performance in guiding the Bucks to their second NBA title last season.

It is very obvious that Shaq being an analyst is always speaking about the NBA and the players. He is often seen downplaying a team or a player and sometimes praising a player after he does well in some important games. While he knows the game inside out, he can exaggerate at times. people still remember his beef with Dwight Howard. He criticises several players day in, day out and one of them is Utah Jazz star, Donovan Mitchell.

Recently however Shaq decided to clarify his statement as he cleared up those comments against Mitchell. The Big Diesel recently showed up in a Full Send Podcast and there he revealed several things regarding the NBA, both from the past and also from current affairs.

The big man spoke about his beef with Lakers teammate and legend Kobe Bryant. Regarding who was the biggest trash talker in the league during his time and how the league has become soft and political with time.

He explained himself by bringing up his incident with Spida Mitchell, Shaq said, “I said something about Donovan Mitchell one time and everybody who everybody is started bashing me. But then I listen to what I’m saying. What I am saying is, I play with Penny Hardaway, Kobe Bryant, D-Wade, LeBron James, Steve Nash. If you ain’t on that level, I don’t know what great is.”

“Really good player, on his way. But to try to crown him as the next. Then I said okay if he is crowned the next, where is he ranked right now. And, people saying five, six, seven. I said ‘I don’t know where you’ll come from but being 5th is not acceptable to me.’ If I am not number one or number two don’t bring my name up, ever,” he added.

There is no question that Donovan Mitchell is one of the best scorers in the NBA currently. His offensive prowess is well known and that is why he is the Jazz talisman right now. His offensive numbers go up even during the playoffs, as his most iconic moment in the NBA has to be going up against Jamal Murray in the 2020 season playoffs.

Spida even averaged a mammoth 32 points in the playoffs last season. He is an exceptional scorer and flourishes more when the game is on the line. Therefore it will be interesting to see how the Jazz turn up for the upcoming season with Donovan Mitchell leading them.