Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, known for his dominant on-court presence and larger-than-life personality, stirred up some controversy during a recent ABC broadcast. While analyzing the Boston Celtics’ convincing 109-98 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Shaq shamelessly admitted he had no clue who rising star Baylor Scheierman was—right in the middle of the rookie’s breakout performance.
Scheierman, the Celtics’ No. 30 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, came off the bench to deliver a stellar showing, dropping 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. The 6-foot-6 guard showcased his versatility, helping propel Boston to the win in front of a national audience. But for Shaq, a Hall of Famer and analyst on “Inside The NBA,” the name didn’t ring a bell at all.
The awkward exchange unfolded during the halftime show when host Ernie Johnson highlighted a play where Scheierman leaked out for an impressive fast-break dunk. O’Neal, without missing a beat, confessed, “I don’t even know who this kid is.”
Johnson quickly filled him in: “Baylor Scheierman.”
Not one to back down, Shaq fired back with his signature smack talk, channeling his legacy as an unstoppable force in the paint. “I ain’t never going to let anyone named Baylor or Scheierman score on me,” he quipped. Then, doubling down on the disrespect, he added, “Scheierman? Who he play for?”
For the record, Scheierman suits up for the reigning champion Boston Celtics, where he’s been carving out a role in his rookie season. Entering the game, the 25-year-old former Creighton standout was averaging 4.6 points and 3.1 rebounds in about 16.3 minutes per contest. Despite limited opportunities, he’s been efficient, shooting 45.5% from the field, 37.7% from beyond the arc, and an impressive 88.9% from the free-throw line.
The moment quickly went viral, with fans clipping and sharing it across social media, highlighting the irony of a basketball icon overlooking a player making waves in the league he once ruled. As an NBA analyst, O’Neal is expected to stay sharp on the current roster of talent he’s covering—after all, his own legacy includes dismantling opponents with both physicality and trash talk.
Hopefully, Shaq does his homework on Scheierman before the Celtics hit ESPN again for their showdown against the Golden State Warriors on March 18. In the meantime, this slip-up adds a fresh layer to O’Neal’s storied persona: the Diesel who talks a big game but sometimes misses the memo on the new kids on the block.