Shaquille O’Neal is many things. A dominant center in the NBA, perhaps the most dominant one, and a great host on TV, a funny man, but the one thing he isn’t, is a three-point shooter.
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It was the one fatal flaw in his game. One that he never wanted to address. Not surprising. Consider the fact that Shaq prides himself on being dominant in the paint. Do you think he would have wanted to use other weapons during his prime?
No. He was averse to shooting the ball. Just give it to him and he will run through defenses and put it in the basket. Easy. But when asked by Sports Illustrated about what it would take for him to attempt a three-point field goal in 2007, his answer was slightly surprising.
“I had 97 points and I’m trying to tie Wilt Chamberlain”: Shaquille O’Neal Had Only One Condition Where He Would Attempt a 3-point Shot
“100 to 1. The only way would be if I had 97 points and I’m trying to tie Wilt Chamberlain. Then I’ll probably step out and shoot the three.” O’Neal told SI.
While Shaq’s career was filled with incredible achievements, his shooting was horrendous. O’Neal’s shooting from distance continued to be a weak point throughout his career. He only has a career three-point percentage of just 22%.
While it’s true that he was primarily a dominant force in the paint, it’s hard to deny that his lack of shooting from the perimeter limited his offensive versatility and made him a one-dimensional player in that regard.
And while he may have wanted to take a shot to tie Wilt, a man who he thought he was eerily similar to, we think he wouldn’t have made it, in all likelihood.
The similarities and dissimilarities between Shaq and Wilt
Both Shaquille O’Neal and Wilt Chamberlain were dominant big men who were impossible to stop in the paint. They were known for their incredible strength, athleticism, and scoring ability.
However, there are also some key differences between the two players. Chamberlain was known for his incredible endurance, averaging an astonishing 45.8 minutes per game over his career. O’Neal, on the other hand, struggled with injuries and was never able to match Chamberlain’s iron-man status.
Additionally, Chamberlain was a more versatile scorer, capable of scoring from anywhere on the court, while O’Neal relied primarily on his dominance in the paint. Wilt was a statistical juggernaut, holding numerous records and leading the league in scoring and rebounding multiple times. O’Neal, while certainly a dominant force, did not achieve the same statistical dominance as Chamberlain. He only won 1 MVP award in his entire career.
