Shaquille O'Neal Goes Off on Ben Simmons and the Modern "Soft" NBA
Man, let me tell you what just happened—Shaquille O'Neal lit up the basketball world with some of the most brutally honest takes we’ve heard in a while. This wasn’t your usual inside-the-NBA segment banter—this was full-on torch mode. He went off not just on the state of the NBA today, but especially on one player in particular: Ben Simmons. And wow…Shaq did not hold back.
So it all went down on “The Big Podcast,” where Shaq was talking with comedian Roy Wood Jr., and the topic drifted to the evolution—or rather, the softening —of the game. Now, if you’ve followed Shaq over the years, you know he’s always been pretty vocal about how the league has changed. But this time, he really let it fly. He straight-up said LeBron James’ ability to dominate deep into his career is due in large part to the league being way less physical. His words? “Less physical. Right now, if you get a flagrant foul, you get fined and suspended. Guys aren't even f***ing fouling hard no more.” And honestly, he’s not wrong—back in Shaq’s day, the paint was a war zone.
But it didn’t stop there. He started tearing into the entire modern generation of NBA players, saying he doesn’t see “greatness” like he used to. “I've seen what greatness is. Been there. Played with them,” he said. “You want me to give these motherf* ers the same props you're giving them? That s t will never happen.” That’s vintage Shaq—no filter, just truth as he sees it.
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Then came the dagger…Ben Simmons.
I mean, Shaq absolutely roasted Simmons. He said—and I quote—“Ben f ing Simmons, that motherf er needs to be arrested. $250 million for that s**t? … Robbing people, man.” Yikes. That wasn’t just a jab—that was a direct hit. Simmons, who’s bounced from the Sixers to the Nets and is now with the Clippers, has been plagued with injuries and inconsistency. He’s played in just 17 games this season, averaging 3.6 points. That’s a far cry from the All-Star form he once had. Yet, the man’s earned over $200 million in career earnings. From Shaq’s perspective, that’s daylight robbery.
And look, Shaq even defended the heat that he and Charles Barkley get for constantly calling out the league. He made it clear—they’re not hating. They’re holding the league accountable because they’ve been great, they know what it looks like. And if they don’t see it in today’s stars, they’re gonna say something.
It’s rare in today’s media landscape to hear someone just unload like that without sugarcoating a thing. But that’s what makes Shaq who he is. Whether you agree with him or not, he says what a lot of old-school fans are thinking. The league is softer. The effort isn’t the same. And some players? Yeah, maybe they are overpaid for what they bring to the court.
One thing’s for sure—Shaq’s not backing down anytime soon. And after this tirade, Ben Simmons might want to stay off social media for a while.
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