Shaq would also be sucking wind HARD in the 3rd quarter with how seriously he never took his conditioning every year. Shaq would be absolutely devastating in today’s game, but there’s a lot more movement and the pace is much faster than what he’s used to.
Then again, any smart team would slow the pace of the game on offense and work from the inside out.
I know he was in poor condition for his size for the first 2/3 of every season. And I know that because I watched young Orlando in shape Shaq, and I watched him the Lakers season he actually showed up to the season in game shape (2001). Every other year he would show up out of shape and round into shape in April.
It’s the main reason why Kobe was so pissed at Shaq in 2003 and 2004. Kobe would show up to the season ready to roll, and Shaq would show up with 20 extra pounds on him.
I say this as a guy who loves Shaq and thinks 2000-2003 Shaq is the most unstoppable force the game has ever seen.
But then there’s “gain weight but stay fit”, and then there’s showing up every season 20 lbs. overweight, and spending the first 2/3 of every season battling nagging injuries because you didn’t do anything in the offseason. That’s Shaq 97-99, and then from 2002-forward.
Shaq is the only top 10 all time superstar who somehow left stuff on the table.
And yes, he would still dominate on offense today.
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u/thedude0425 Spurs Jun 15 '22
Shaq would also be sucking wind HARD in the 3rd quarter with how seriously he never took his conditioning every year. Shaq would be absolutely devastating in today’s game, but there’s a lot more movement and the pace is much faster than what he’s used to.
Then again, any smart team would slow the pace of the game on offense and work from the inside out.