When you think of the players that made a lasting impact on the NBA, Shaquille O’Neal will surely be one of them. The former Lakers center dominated the league on his own as if he owned every arena. Every team that played against him knew that he was a force to be reckoned with. The American’s dunks were one of his best traits. His impact on the game wasn’t just because of how good he was on the court.
Simply the greatest power dunker ever. @SHAQ | #NBADunkWeek pic.twitter.com/yAxbRkkRub
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 2, 2022
Shaq was one of the players who even made the NBA change the rules for him. He featured in a game for the Orlando Magic in 1993. His put-back dunk was such a force that the goal ended up lowering to the floor. The force of the dunk broke the backboard’s support.
Recently, on The Big Podcast, Shaquille O’Neal spoke out on rule changes in the NBA. The question for him was to share his opinions on the rules that the NBA changes and whether it is hurting the game. Shaq got down to his point straight.
He said, “I think it’s hurting the game. It’s an old saying, if it’s not broke, do not fix it. I think guys are more athletic, more talented, have far more shooting range. But I think a lot of times these rules changes cause a lot of people are complaining.”
We as fans can all agree with the NBA legend in one way or another. We have loved the game for many years and we will do so for years to come. As he said, if it is not broke, there is no need for it to change. That doesn’t include the situations where the safety of the personnel operating in the NBA is concerned.
Shaquille O’Neal has his say on whether NBA rule changes have been developing the game
Shaq also said, “Like when I was in the league, ‘he’s standing in there too long, three second, let’s change the rule’ okay I wanted to get them out… it’s just a lot of guys complaining… I’m glad I’m mentioned in the original aliens of this Earth. You know it’s a lot of guys being mentioned in it now, only a few you can pick from this dimension and bring them there. LeBron, Steph, guys like that.”
The rule changes have made the game different for fans, and former players. Shaq mentioned that LeBron James and Stephen Curry are the only two players from this era that he’d bring to his “dimension”. The main reason for this would be their ability to adapt. They have been in the league for long enough that they know how to adapt to the different changes. Moreover, their game and play style doesn’t directly depend on the rules they have to follow.
The 50-year-old also mentioned, “people always say‘ Oh you hatin, hatin.’ It’s not that I’m hating, I wish I was playing with these buttercups right now. I wish I was.” Many fans claim that the changes in rules have made players softer. If we’re being honest, players even flop nowadays to get fouls.
The basketball community knows that the game used to be a lot more physical back in the day. Nowadays, it’s about technical ability and flair. As Shaq said, players have more shooting range and they’re more athletic.