“Clippers, y’all are done if you can’t make Conference Finals this year”: Shaquille O’Neal warns Kawhi Leonard and co that they’ll be NBA fans’ laughing stock again

Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal says that if Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers can’t go this far into the playoffs, it’s time to blow the team up.

This has felt like a fight or flight season for the LA Clippers, for quite some time now, and for good reason. Despite all the hype, Kawhi Leonard was the only one who showed up at times for the franchise during the last postseason, which later resulted in the team being a second-round exit.

Since then, the team has been deemed by many to be closer to being pretenders than contenders, despite all the talent on the roster. And to change that, several analysts have proclaimed they need to see the Clippers prove themselves during this postseason.

This is a fairly popular opinion, so it’s no surprise former player Shaquille O’Neal agrees as well. However, he also surprisingly decided to take it one step further, announcing a hot take on a recent podcast appearance.

Also Read: NBA analyst applauds Lakers duo after Game 2 win vs Suns

Shaq warns the Clippers about the consequences of not making the Conference Finals this time

Aside from his illustrious career as an NBA player, Shaq is most commonly known as one of the funnier panelists on TNT’s ‘Inside the NBA’. However, the analyst also has a podcast called ‘The Big Podcast’. And if you thought the Diesel was controversial on live television, you’d be blown away by his appearances on this show.

In his latest appearance, he was asked to predict his picks to win this year’s first-round matchups. And here is who he picked between the Clippers and the Mavericks. Take a listen.

“If they don’t get to the Western Conference Finals, the year’s gonna be a bust.” 👀@SHAQ talks Clippers on #TheBigPodcast | https://t.co/VfrpDgPO8W pic.twitter.com/fyLaxikiJG

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 26, 2021

“Clippers. Cause listen, the Clippers got to do it. Last year, they were the laughing stock. And you know, people gave them a pass. But if you don’t get it done this year buddy, y’all are done!”

O’Neal was then asked if the franchise was better off blowing the team up if the worst happens. Here was his response.

“Yes. If they don’t get to the Western Conference Finals, the year’s going to be a bust.”

Yikes! Shaq really doesn’t bite his tongue, does he?

Still, what he said can’t really be labeled as false. If the Clippers truly have title expectations this season, the team needs to at least, make the Conference finals this time. But with the team already down to 2-0 to Dallas in the first round, perhaps the franchise is already considering Shaq’s suggestion.

Also Read: Skip Bayless melts down after AD-led Lakers win vs Suns while his Clippers lose to Luka Doncic

About the author

Tonoy Sengupta

Tonoy Sengupta is a Senior Editor at The SportsRush. Coming from an athletically inclined family, he has been surrounded by sports ever since he was 4 years old. But, while initially pouring all his time into Football (soccer), at 14, Tonoy discovered basketball through the countless highlights of Stephen Curry humiliating players from Curry Land. And just like that, a fiery passion for the game was ignited within Tonoy. And soon after, he decided to become a student of journalism, graduating in 2022, and choosing sports as his area of interest. Today, you can find him spending 99% of his time browsing through every type of content on every team in the NBA, before uncorking everything he has found to the world. In the 1% he isn't doing this, you can find him playing Basketball, Football, Volleyball, or practically any other sport he has had the opportunity to learn.

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