Shaquille O’Neal finally gives his thoughts on the goat debate

Shaquille O’Neal recently waded into the age-old debate about who the greatest basketball player of all time is: Michael Jordan or LeBron James.

Alongside his pick for basketball, O’Neal also shared his thoughts on the GOATs (Greatest of All Time) across various major sports.

As a former NBA superstar with four championship rings, Shaq’s opinions carry significant weight, not only in basketball but also in the broader sports community.

The 7-foot-1 NBA legend, who has successfully transitioned into the business world and serves as an ESPN analyst, made his selections public via Instagram.H

e reposted a graphic from “Boxing Habit,” which displayed his choices for the greatest athletes across different sports.

While O’Neal did not provide in-depth commentary for each sport, the list was packed with widely agreed-upon legends.

For example, Floyd Mayweather was chosen as the best boxer, a pick most would find hard to argue against, and Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion, was crowned the GOAT of American football.

Other picks on Shaq’s list include Lionel Messi, who, after winning eight Ballon d’Ors, was selected as the best in football, surpassing his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo. For tennis, O’Neal chose Serena Williams, who has dominated the sport for decades.

Similarly, Wayne Gretzky was an obvious choice for ice hockey, Usain Bolt for track and field, and Tiger Woods for golf.

Among others, Shaq also gave nods to Willie Mays in baseball, Georges St-Pierre in MMA, Simone Biles for gymnastics, and Michael Phelps for swimming.

The most notable, and perhaps controversial, pick was O’Neal’s choice for basketball.

Shaq picked LeBron James over Michael Jordan, his former teammate, and one of the most decorated NBA players in history.

While LeBron’s career is far from being understated—he’s a four-time NBA champion and the only player to surpass 40,000 career points—the debate between him and Jordan has divided fans for years.

Jordan’s six NBA titles and five MVPs have long made him the favorite in these discussions.

What makes Shaq’s decision interesting is that it appears to contradict his previous statements.

In a recent podcast episode with his former Miami Heat teammate Mario Chalmers, Shaq admitted that while players from his generation and others feared Jordan and Kobe Bryant, he hadn’t heard anyone say they feared LeBron.

This observation adds another layer to the debate, highlighting the difference in how Jordan and LeBron are perceived by their peers and competitors.

In the end, while O’Neal’s picks may stir some debate, his list aligns with popular opinion across many sports, cementing the legacies of some of the greatest athletes of all time.

However, the choice between LeBron and Jordan remains subjective and continues to fuel conversations among basketball fans and analysts alike.