Shaquille O’Neal was seen smirking as he scrolled through social media reactions to his latest comments. The Hall of Famer, who is known for fiercely protecting his legacy, surprised many by giving high praise to Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, calling him the “GOAT.”
The statement came in response to an Instagram post comparing Curry’s career scoring to O’Neal’s. The post highlighted that O’Neal ranks No. 10 all-time with 28,596 points, while Curry sits at No. 19 with 26,397 points. Shaq’s simple reply quickly grabbed attention: “That’s ok with me, Curry is the GOAT.”
This glowing endorsement followed a recent omission that had raised eyebrows. Earlier this month, during an appearance on Netflix’s Power Moves, O’Neal left Curry out of his top 10 greatest players of all time. Instead, he listed icons such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, and Julius Erving.
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The snub stood out even more because O’Neal had previously shown support for Curry. On a past Inside the NBA segment, he argued that Curry deserved to be in the GOAT conversation, saying: “I played against Mike, played with Kobe, played against and with LeBron. At some point, we’re going to have to put Steph Curry in that category.”
Many fans interpreted the latest comment as a subtle apology or a course correction, highlighting Shaq’s unpredictable takes on legacy debates. Supporters of Curry flooded social media with reminders of his scoring milestones, record-breaking three-point shooting, and multiple MVP awards, while Shaq fans countered with discussions on dominance, physicality, and era differences.
The timing adds extra weight, as Curry continues to climb the all-time scoring list and is now fewer than 2,200 points behind O’Neal’s mark, sparking fresh talks about evolving definitions of greatness.
Quick comparison stats:
- Shaq career points: 28,596 (No. 10 all time)
- Curry career points: 26,397 (No. 19 all time)
- NBA titles: Shaq 4 (with Lakers) + 1 (with Heat) = 5; Curry 4 (with Warriors)
- MVP awards: Shaq 1, Curry 2
- All-Star selections: Shaq 15, Curry 13
Luka Doncic pulls alongside Shaq O’Neal in the history books
Meanwhile, another star is making waves by brushing up against O’Neal’s records. Los Angeles Lakers forward Luka Doncic erupted for 46 points, including eight three-pointers, in a victory over the Chicago Bulls. The performance tied him with Shaq for the most 45-point double-doubles in Lakers history and placed him alongside Kobe Bryant as the only players to achieve a 45-point double-double with at least eight threes in a game.
Doncic reached 2,000 points with the Lakers in just 65 games—the fastest in franchise history—further solidifying his role as a cornerstone for the team. He has now scored over 30 points in four straight games, averaging 33.8 points per game (slightly ahead of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 32.1), fueling early debates about his potential spot on a Lakers Mount Rushmore.
With the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend approaching in Los Angeles (February 13-15 at the Intuit Dome), Doncic could be joined by close friend Nikola Jokic, who is recovering from a knee injury and remains questionable for the event. The All-Star format will feature Team World versus two Team USA squads.
“Amazing, yes. Everyone knows what kind of friend Nikola is,” Doncic said. “We’ll be in LA, so we’ll probably spend time off the court together.”