Shaquille O’Neal Believes LeBron James’ Comeback Could Be a Book-worthy Story: “Imagine If That Man Made it to the Championship and Won”

LeBron James’ career can have multiple books and biographies and still, there would be space for more when it’s all said and done. The 19x All-Star of the Los Angeles Lakers is now injured and there is a chance that he would miss the rest of the season. But Shaquille O’Neal wants his former team to stay competitive because it could the stage for a typical heroic story.

Although the Warriors look more likely to do the massive tournament, the Purple and Gold team, if they just make it to the play-in spot and James makes a return on time, would still be one of the favorites to beat all the odds and win it all.

Shaq thinks they could become the first NBA team to win a championship coming through the play-in tournament.

Also read: “LeBron James May Require Ankle Surgery”: Skip Bayless’s Source Claims Lakers Superstar’s Injury Worse Than It Looks

Shaquille O’Neal contemplates a beautiful story for LeBron James’ return

It’s too unreal to actually happen for a team to first come off the unpredictable play-in tournament, then play teams like the Warriors, Mavericks, or Pelicans who have the firepower to beat the teams such as the Kings, Suns, Grizzlies, or Nuggets.

Any PnC with those teams coming to see them in the Playoffs would be next to impossible for the LA team and then if they beat these teams, Bucks, Celtics, or any other team from the East that has beaten those two would be waiting for the Lakers in the Finals.

This might be why O’Neal thinks it’s going to be a book-worthy story.

“We like going for the impossible story. Imagine the story. We’re out. The team plays well. We get to the playoffs, play in game, I’m healthy,” Shaq said speaking about LeBron on the recent drop of the Big Podcast With Shaq.

“And I had three weeks off, massages and everything. We win the playoff game and now we’re in the first round. Somebody on the other team gets hurt. Will we make it out of the first round? We go to the second round. Imagine if that man made it to the championship and won. That’s a hell of a book right there.”

Also read: “Should’ve Ignored Her!”: Shaquille O’Neal Expressed Displeasure Towards Michael B Jordan to ‘Aunt’ Nischelle Turner

If it could really happen

With a healthy starting five of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley with Dennis Schroder as the 6th man leading a decent bench, there are only a couple of teams who could claim they’d beat that team in a 7-game series.

And only one of them is in the West, the Kevin Durant-led Phoenix Suns. If James and company make it through the Play-ins and avoid them until the West Finals, they would have games together to win it all. It still might sound impossible to some, but if someone could pull it off, it is The King.

Also read: “Anthony Davis Needs To Step Up”: Shaquille O’Neal Echoes Charles Barkley’s Sentiment On The Lakers Big-Man Following LeBron James Injury

About the author

Akash Murty

An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by degree, Akash Murty is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Previously a Software Engineer, Murty couldn’t keep himself away from sports, and his knack for writing and putting his opinion forward brought him to the TSR. A big Soccer enthusiast, his interest in basketball developed late, as he got access to a hoop for the first time at 17. Following this, he started watching basketball at the 2012 Olympics, which transitioned to NBA, and he became a fan of the game as he watched LeBron James dominate the league. Him being an avid learner of the game and ritually following the league for around a decade, he now writes articles ranging from throwbacks, and live game reports, to gossip. LA Lakers are his favourite basketball team, while Chelsea has his heart in football. He also likes travelling, reading fiction, and sometimes cooking.

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