Shaq declares Hakeem the only center he could not defeat

lol. He said he'll be another expert on Inside the NBA on TNT. "I consider Ernie an expert, I consider Charles an expert, and now you have one more expert on the panel of 4". Ouch.

 

Spoiler

How are you?

Whats up buddy, how are you?

Doing good. Good to have you on the program. I know a lot of fans are excited to see you on TV. That show has such great chemistry with Kenny, Ernie and Charles. Have they talked about your role? Just Shaq being Shaq?

Yeah, just me being me but when I go up there, you have another expert. I consider Ernie an expert, I consider Charles an expert. One more expert on the panel of four.

Are you going to make a point to wear all four rings on the first night just show you can show them to Charles?

No, no, I'll never do that.

On the lockout, what's your sense on this thing? Are we in for 1999 all over again or could it be worse?

The only people who really get messed around with in this whole situation is the fans. If both sides come to a great business agreement and get things going on time, it will be good but I'm hearing that's not the case right now but hopefully gets resolved very soon.

As a former player, only for a few months now but do you think the players watched what went on with the NFL and saw them kind of come together in that whole thing and take that as a lesson that we need to repair this thing quickly?

I think they did but you have to understand one of the critical issues: not all NBA teams are making money. That's the owner's beef. They want to cut back on certain things and players want certain things. It's all business. All the teams in the NFL are making money so it was advantageous and quick for them to go do what they needed to do. The NBA is different. A lot has to be talked about and hopefully they get it done.

Do the guys generally believe, I think the number was 22 out of 30 owners are losing money. Do the guys generally believe those numbers are accurate?

I think if you have a smart enough business to open the books and look at the books, see what really goes on, that may be true, it may not be true, but ???(open the books?)

In 1999, the owners waited out. A certain fraction of players need the money, living paycheck to paycheck. You have been good with your money. Have you seen a teammate reckless like that and pulled him aside and said what are you doing?

I dont want to talk about people's personal life's but there are stories on the internet, and stories about what guys have done. I'm not at liberty to say this guy has done this or this guy has done that.

COming off a great 2010-2011 season. LeBron took a lot of criticism during the Finals. Justified?

Some of it probably wasn't but everyone goes through it. Jordan, the greatest player in the world, took a lot criticism, I took criticism, Magic took criticism, Kareem took criticism. LeBron is a great player, great team player. He was playing great team ball but when you play great team ball and dont win, of course being the best player on the planet, all the blame is on you.

LeBron a good teammate?

Best teammate ever. Very unselfish. He wants to get you involved before he gets himself involved. Now in Miami where you have another guy who dominates the ball, they had to mix it up at times. They had the most success when Wade was scoring one night, then LeBron scoring one night. Both those guys cant take 30 shots and get 30 points.

Do you think the mix right now can work or do they need to add something to make it work and win a title?

I think the mix can work. They made it to the finals and fell short to a better team. Dallas was more well-rounded. Ball moved more, Dirk played out of his mind.

Also played with Kobe. Do you think Kobe gets out when he has some game left or will they have to drag him off the floor?

Probably have to drag off the floor. Already is the number one Laker. He always used to say that when he was 18. "I'm gonna be the number one Laker, the number one player ever", he accomplished all that. He probably wants to tie Mike with six rings or even get seven rings. He already passed everybody up as far as points, game played, everything in that organization, he wants to be the number one guy.

This show is based out of Houston. You faced Hakeem in the finals early in your career. Who was your toughest matchup when you were in the game?

First, I want to thank people for going to all my 24 hour fitness' in Houston and in Pearland. I live in Pearland actually. Second of all, Hakeem was the only guy, only center I couldn't defeat. All the other ones I demolished and crushed and obliterated. Hakeem Olajuwon was the only one I couldnt.

What made him so tough?

He had all skills. I couldn't break him. A lot of guys I could break mentally first before the game even started.

You went 68-1 in 2 years at Cole HS in SA. What did that one team do to beat you?

I missed 4 FTs with like 25 secs left.

The Oreo triple-double promotion you have going on. Talk about that.

Oreo has changed the game when it comes to how you twist, lick and dunk your cookie. Now got this triple double, combing two layers of oreo creme, one chocolate and one of the original. One of the best oreos out there and only 100 calories per cookie so thats nice

Watching the calories now that you're out of the game?

Yes I am.

You made a ton of money. You're into so many things. What intrigues me the most about you, you went back and not only got your degree but got an online degree at the University of Phoenix in MBA. Do you let the University of Phoenix count your income towards the average income for their graduates?

I have to correct you there buddy. It wasnt online. UoP is set-up online but I got with the university and I went to class.

Did you really?

Of course. I didnt want people to question me doing it online. I went to class brother. Every day.

Thats great. What was it like?

It was me and 12 other students. It was fun. Got a chance to bond together, learn together and grow together.

Best of luck with Oreos and look forward to seeing you on TV.

Thank you.

 

Yea he owns either a 24 hour fitness or LA fitness here in houston

 

He's always dissed Kenny before given the chance, he thinks of Kenny as a coattail rider.

Here's more of Shaq's thoughts on Kenny:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KxoIqmWjgz8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

I have never seen Shaq in Pearland, I would think he would be easy to spot.

 

I saw him at a Wal Mart I worked at, not gonna lie, I had to try really hard to hold in all those happy kid feelings you get. Lol.:grin:

 

I would like to see his head-to-head stats vs. Yao. I don't think he dominated Yao, either.

 

Everyone thinks of Kenny as a coat tail rider

 

How is Shaq not being able to defeat Hakeem news to anybody?

 

A prime Shaq never got a chance to face a prime Yao. So you can't compare.
In fact Shaq never really met a Prime Hakeem else it will be more embarrassing for Shaq.

 

Everyone?

 

therer were thoughts in that video? i didnt understand a single got-damn word.

 

Shaq is the man!

 

Hiuh? You dont consider Prime Hakeem in 94 and 95? Because Shaq played against Hakeem those years.

 

There might be a little tension with Kenny, but this probably has more to do with TNT trying to generate another subplot for people to follow to boost their ratings. Shaq is savvy enough to know how to play the media to his advantage. Notice that a lot of the color commentators had some of trashtalking: Bill Walton-Tom Tolbert, JVG-Mark Jackson, Kenny-Charles...

 

I don't know why but Shaq seems to have some form of relationship with Hakeem, maybe as a mentor or whatever or because he beat him in 95, but it's not true. I've seen the 92-93 game vs. Magic recently where Rockets won but Olajuwon played terrible. Shaq forced him out of his comfort zone and outplayed Olajuwon. I'm sure Shaq outplayed him many times in the 93-97 era when Olajuwon was still very good / great. Maybe Dream learned from that game on that Shaq was a force to be reckoned with, it was only 2nd time they played against each other, and it didn't faze anymore after that.

 

I remember Shaq living in Houston for along time. He had a girlfriend here and I remember him going to see a movie at Meyerland way back in the day.

Also, keep in mind, these rich ass basketball players have many homes in many cities.

 

Shaq criticizing Kenny is all for comedy, same for Barkley.

You guys can diss Kenny all you want, when he was in his prime (not the championship years) he was pretty awesome. he still is the best 3 point shooter in Rockets history.

Also I believe the disrespect for Kenny the player is somehow part of his perception on TNT.

of course Kenny isn't better than Barkley or Magic Johnson as a player.

 

I wonder what Rockets history people watched.

94, Dream was the DPOY, Finals and NBA MVP.
95 was the demolition of David Robinson playoff run.