Shaquille O’Neal orders Lakers star to ‘step up’ – Sports News
Shaq by no means sugar-coats a factor as an NBA legend with 4 rings, a backboard-breaking spotlight reel, and the sort of post-game that put concern into the league’s all-time best gamers. With a self-appointed proper to speak spicy to gamers, he had a few unfiltered phrases for DeAndre Ayton after the Lakers’ season opener.
Los Angeles misplaced 119-109 to Golden State. With LeBron James nonetheless sidelined with sciatica, the staff’s offense screamed Doncic and Reaves towards the world after Luka cooked for 42 factors, 12 boards, and 9 assists, although he missed most of his threes.
Reaves, who beforehand had his golf swing stamped by James, chipped in 26 factors and 9 assists, however Ayton’s 10 factors, six rebounds, 4 turnovers, and nil free throws made weren’t enough for O’Neal. “Listen, DeAndre, that performance you had yesterday…” Shaq mentioned earlier than signaling a giant thumbs down.
“I need you to step it up, my boy. You gotta rebound. You gotta block shots. And you gotta dominate,” he mentioned. “You’re playing with two great players who get doubled a lot. When they make the bounce pass, catch it, and throw it down.”
“You’re not getting doubled, and you have a small guy guarding you,” he continued. “You turn around and shoot a fadeaway. That’s not gonna get it done.”
Shaq has seen enough delicate hook makes an attempt and beforehand criticized stars like Joel Embiid for them, and Ayton’s shot chart did not help his case. He made almost every little thing inside 5 toes and one jumper from 13, however missed two makes an attempt that clanged short away from the paint.
O’Neal completed his profession taking pictures 58.3 % and is second in NBA historical past in complete dunks, solely behind Dwight Howard, one other large man Shaq critiqued all through his profession. He’s beforehand informed Ayton not to copy the Diesel blueprint.
“Don’t be the next Shaq. Be the first Ayton.” That was back when Ayton was nonetheless in Phoenix. Ayton’s at all times referred to as him “Big Unc” since their Nike EYBL days with Shareef O’Neal. “Just knowing the greats. One of the greats I grew up with is Shaquille O’Neal. I had a good relationship with him,” Ayton admitted.
“As a child growing up playing for EYBL teams, me and his son, Shareef O’Neal, and I’ve created that relationship with him. And playing in the playoffs and getting to talk to him is like ‘Big Unc.’ And we know how he also had my back when I was winning. And just having that here is pretty cool.”
On Friday night time, the Lakers and Ayton have one other likelihood to redeem themselves towards the Timberwolves on Prime Video. Anthony Edwards (back) is listed as day-to-day after the shoot-around, which might give Ayton alternatives for one-on-one matchups towards Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid.
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