Shaquille O’Neal orders Lakers star to ‘step up’

Shaq never sugar-coats a factor as an NBA legend with 4 rings, a backboard-breaking highlight reel, and the type of post-game that put worry into the league’s all-time best gamers. With a self-appointed proper to discuss spicy to gamers, he had a few unfiltered phrases for DeAndre Ayton after the Lakers’ season opener.

Los Angeles misplaced 119-109 to Golden State. With LeBron James still sidelined with sciatica, the team’s offense screamed Doncic and Reaves against the world after Luka cooked for 42 factors, 12 boards, and 9 assists, though he missed most of his threes.

Reaves, who beforehand had his golf swing stamped by James, chipped in 26 factors and 9 assists, however Ayton’s 10 factors, six rebounds, 4 turnovers, and 0 free throws made weren’t sufficient for O’Neal. “Listen, DeAndre, that performance you had yesterday…” Shaq said before signaling a large thumbs down.

“I need you to step it up, my boy. You gotta rebound. You gotta block shots. And you gotta dominate,” he said. “You’re playing with two great players who get doubled a lot. When they make the bounce pass, catch it, and throw it down.”

“You’re not getting doubled, and you have a small guy guarding you,” he continued. “You turn around and shoot a fadeaway. That’s not gonna get it done.”

Shaq has seen sufficient gentle hook makes an attempt and beforehand criticized stars like Joel Embiid for them, and Ayton’s shot chart did not assist his case. He made practically all the things inside 5 ft and one jumper from 13, however missed two makes an attempt that clanged brief away from the paint.

O’Neal completed his profession taking pictures 58.3 p.c and is second in NBA historical past in complete dunks, only behind Dwight Howard, another big man Shaq critiqued throughout his profession. He’s beforehand told Ayton not to copy the Diesel blueprint.

“Don’t be the next Shaq. Be the first Ayton.” That was again when Ayton was still in Phoenix. Ayton’s always called him “Big Unc” since their Nike EYBL days with Shareef O’Neal. “Just knowing the greats. One of the greats I grew up with is Shaquille O’Neal. I had a good relationship with him,” Ayton admitted.

“As a child growing up playing for EYBL teams, me and his son, Shareef O’Neal, and I’ve created that relationship with him. And playing in the playoffs and getting to talk to him is like ‘Big Unc.’ And we know how he also had my back when I was winning. And just having that here is pretty cool.”

On Friday evening, the Lakers and Ayton have another likelihood to redeem themselves against the Timberwolves on Prime Video. Anthony Edwards (again) is listed as day-to-day after the shoot-around, which might give Ayton alternatives for one-on-one matchups against Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid.