Shaq Rips Into LeBron James' Greatness In The 'Soft' NBA Era

Few terms are as disrespectful to professional athletes as the word “bust,” but leave it up to Shaq to take it even further.

The Hall of Famer spoke the current state of the NBA on his The Big Podcast with comedian Roy Wood Jr.

He first praised certified hoopers like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Damian Lillard, and Jayson Tatum, but the niceties ended there when he addressed 2016’s No. 1 draft pick Ben Simmons and his massive contract.

“But Ben Simmons [needs] to be f-cking arrested. $250 [million] for that bullsh-t? Get the f-ck out of my face. Robbing people, man. You can’t do that,” Shaq said.

This wasn’t always the general attitude towards Simmons because he kicked off his NBA career by winning Rookie of the Year and was named an All-Star three consecutive years. But after being uncooperative with the 76ers and being shipped off to the Brooklyn Nets, who eventually bought him out after injuries and an inability to even average 10 points, he wound up with the Los Angeles Clippers, as his stock began to fall.

On the opposite end of Simmons’ spectrum is LeBron James, who has managed to remain a top-10 player in the league despite being in his 22nd year at 40. Still, Shaq thinks his dominance this late in his career comes from the league’s lack of physicality.

“It’s less physical. Right now, you get a flagrant foul, you get fined and suspended. Guys ain’t even fouling hard no more,” Shaq says. “Back when I played, it was crazy. But even before that, in the ’80s and ’90s, it was probably more physical.  People get mad, but it’s just a product of what I see.”

He went on to address the hate he and NBA on TNT co-host Charles Barkley get for heavily critiquing today’s players and refusing to shower them in praise.