Richard Jefferson On Why Prime Shaq Is The Most Dominant Player In NBA History 

We FINALLY got RJ on the show. It publishes first thing in the morning so please subscribe if you haven't. And here's today's Islands In The League on Role Players if you haven't watched. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0P0PcjCoTwY.html

Hey JJ, i think it would be extremely interesting if you could interview a G-league player, we never get insight of what happens there. Keep up the amazing work the podcast is a dream come true !

"He was our JJ Redick, but he played defense." This podcast is unreal. Love it.

Richard dropping the casual “JJ if he played defense” bar and the cut to JJ straightfaced 😂😂😂😂😂😂

Shaq telling people not to try to contest his dunks or else he'll break their wrists is one of the Craziest lines ive ever heard in sports😭😭. Cause he aint even trying to threaten you. Hes just worried for you well being because it will definetly happen if you try to block his full power dunk. Bro was a force of nature😂😂😂

RJ so right about this. Teams literally signed extra centers ahead of the playoffs just so they could have more fouls to use against Prime Shaq. it was the only way. Shoutout to my man RASHO NESTEROVIC!!!!

Richard Jefferson has Deadpool energy for real, I always hear it whenever & wherever he talks.

When JJ said "...game planning for SHAQ" and Richard chuckled, absolutely sent me lol 🤣☠

Richard Jefferson is really one of the best dudes in this whole nba media circus. Always good stories, clear analysis and actual perceptive humour. Great to see you guys having a good time.

In my opinion Shaq has an argument for the greatest peak in NBA history. I think lack of longevity keeps him out of that GOAT talk with Kareem, MJ, Bron, but at his best 3-4 years he was as impactful as anybody who's ever played.

That Shaq and Kobe duo was a godsend for us Laker fans during those years. Two unstoppable players, two MVP level players by 02, and both were super entertaining when scoring. Just a crazy time for LA and Laker fans.

I think the most underrated aspect to Shaq's game is his finesse. Sure, he physically dominated people, but he had excellent footwork, and for most of his career he ran the floor like someone a foot shorter!

9:37 “He was our jj reddick but he played defense” 💀😂 Richard Jefferson is too much man

THESE TWO NEED A TELEVISION SHOW!!!!

The 1996 Bulls had four centers on their playoff roster, including a 40-year-old James Edwards, primarily because they needed bodies to throw at Shaq. Their Shaq contingency plan was Longley/Wennington/Edwards/Salley/Rodman. That's nearly half the roster!

Shaq TOTALLY DOMINATED the entire New Jersey Nets frontline during the finals. One by one. I actually felt the physical pain Shaq was inflicting on the Nets just by watching it on TV.

“Watch out little fella…” 😂😂😂

They got RJ on the pod 😂😂 Already know this finna be a good one

I still remember watching the lakers sixers final and seeing Shaq dunk on 3 people at once and all 3 Sixers centres nearly fouling out just trying to stop him. No one could guard him

To put Shaq’s strength in even more perspective. The arm wrestling champion of the world (who is also 6’4 and jacked) said he was the strongest non professional arm wrestler he’s ever went against. Shaq was in his 40s too

People who haven't seen Shaq play in his prime cannot understand how dominant he was. I remember seeing three players almost on his shoulders to prevent him dunking. I know analytics say that for today NBA you need to shoot from three abundantly in order to win games. I am curious to see what kind of adjustments teams would be forced to implement in order to prevent Shaq scoring 50pts with 80% from the field forcing 2/3 of your players to leave the court for foul trouble. I'm 51 and I cannot remember anyone even close to this "big fella" in terms of dominance. And on top of that: he was mean!

Love RJ, dude is so funny and sounds humble always!!

That look/eye roll from RJ at the very beginning once JJ mentions Shaq’s name tells you everything you need to know 😂 like he’s saying “boy what? That mf was wild as hell” lol

Shaq was just a monster I still remembered that he dunked on the whole nets team in the finals

Shaq had a 10 year run of averaging 26+ and 10+ (usually more) starting in year 2. Rich talked about teams needing 3 bigs just for him, I wonder what the average amount of fouls he drew per game were.

Shaquille O'Neal was so dominant that the game literally wasn't built for a guy like him. We've had guys like Darryl shatter boards here and there, but I PROMISE you if you put Shaq in any era before 1998 he'd break backboards EVERY GAME.

As great as Shaq was, he was underrated. Thanks RJ/JJ for this topic

SHAQ's footwork was out of this world.

Listening to RJ talk about the hope and joy his era brought to the nets history really felt special. I never recognised that. I'm proud of him too for being a part of that.

RJ is such a chill dude man honestly. You can tell nba players are comfortable around him

When he ends the clip with “hope you laughed”, I definitely died when RJ said Shaq was their missing piece 😂😂😂

Shaq and Steph are 2 players to me that change the era that they play in. It’s like the whole style of basketball changes once you drop them in any era. Like you drop shaq in this era small ball goes out because now you need bodies of bigs to keep on shaq. Than if you drop Steph in the era of before and you don’t guard him from half court. You’ll get torched and pick him up from half court real quick

Shaq was one of the main reasons they changed the illegal defense rules. In the 90's it was illegal to double team anyone without the ball. Shaq got isolation one on one because of this and it was almost impossible. It was a more fun type of basketball in my opinion but the rule change makes sense.

The 1st Finals series i watched was the in 2002. I was 11 years old, even then, i could not believe a person like Shaq could ever exist. He made the Nets team, and his own teammates look so small. I was just in awe back then.

There’s nothing more fun than watching the Lakers back then. Seeing centers around the league struggle against Shaq was amazing and frightening at the same time. There was no stopping him. They all knew what he was gonna do but there was nothing they could do to deter that. And you had Kobe doing his thing. That team was a force. Also their role players were underrated as hell to (Fisher, Fox, Horry, Harper, Grant, etc).

1:27 JJ corrects 5:02 RJ winks 9:39 JJ redick but played defense 10:33 Missing piece for championship

“Jason collins god he couldn’t do anything”😂😂😂😂😂

JJ and RJ. My two favourite ESPN analysts

JJ and RJ need to combine forces and have their own podcast.

if Shaq kept his peak longer he would also be in the GOAT conversation. those years he was so unreal. Miles ahead with any big in the NBA.

I have never seen guys look helpless like they did trying to guard Shaq. As a fan of a team playing against him it just felt unfair.

I've never been so hyped for a guest as I am right now.

JJ when he got roasted: “…Yeah” 😂

This snippet is Pure Gold...all of it.

This is great chemistry, can’t wait to listen to the full episode

RJ is always entertaining af

9:35 might be the funniest moment on this show ever ngl

I remember a sportscaster at the time saying “who is the mvp this year besides Shaq”. Shaq dominated like no other.

The BEST way to ask the realest question ever JJ. Love your work

I was wondering why this clip about Shaq's dominance went on several minutes past that conversation... and then I got to the last line by RJ. Well done.

I am convinced the only people who argue that Prime Shaq was not the most dominant player for a time in the NBA are the people who did not see him play during his prime. You started the game accepting Shaq was going to be Shaq. Everything else was just trying to find ways around that fact.

2 fav former players to hear from on tv/media. Look forward to the full interview

“Hack-A-Shaq” was a real thing for a reason. Those Nets teams where better than folks give them credit for. Loved the way the game was played then as well plus many players got better as shooters from the youthful era. Great take and good banter from these two!

These two are awesome together. I can listen to these two even without watching basketball

I guarded Richard Jefferson once and I didn’t believe he was made out of the same thing I was made out of. So to hear him talk about how dominant shaq was says a lot.

Finally!!!!! Thank you Richard Jefferson. You played with and against so much greatness in recent history….. this man is speaking the truth.

the rj shaq joke at the end was gold. great as always

This has to b one of my most fav sport talk episodes ever!!! 😂😂😂 RJ and JJ - big fan of ur game and even more so now!! Appreciate all u do!

You two have really good chemistry

Great questions and response... Those Nets, Spurs, Lakers, Kings, and Sixers teams were so much fun to watch!

The stuff y’all do is great, finally have to Sub. This clip was awesome

Easily one of the best guests ever.

RJ is so right about his commentary about starting the Nets franchise. Growing up in NJ those Nets teams that went to finals is what made me fall in love with basketball and the team.

Shaq’s footwork and skill in the low post is underrated

My first game ever was T-Wolves with Laettner vs. the Shaq led Magic. As a kid, Shaq was literally awesome.

lmaooo RJ immediately laughed when JJ said "gameplan for shaq" 😭😭😭

Need this whole episode asap

I was born in 94, but I still remember that 2003 three peat sweep against New Jersey! Shaq was such a monster that one of the Nets jumped on his back when a got the ball in the lane one time lol

The big diesel was a 7'1 / 300 lbs sheer mass of utter dominance and destruction. You can't guard that

I loved the NJ nets. Went to a number of games from 2005-2010. Miss those guys

Best basketball duo on RU-vid podcast.

imagine shaq taking his physical shape seriously. that's why kb 24 was mad

I apreciate how freely you guys are doing your pod ❤

Love the gentle digging of RJ. "He was our JJ, except he played defense".

I was thereeeee - as a Nets fan - watching in real time what he's annotating - Shaq was a 111 on a 2k scale to what 99 is to inside skillset today. It was an unstoppable force that looked like a video game in real time - he was not a man against boys- he was a God against middle schoolers seriously. And this was a nets team that revolutionized the fast break! What the, Nets, did for Steve Nashes Phoenix, suns, and Golden state, today- is arguably what stephen curry did for smalls and the three ball - and Shaq pulled a Jordan on Barkley to a team that arguably changed the game the same way curry has. I cried in Puerto Rico while on vacation watching that nets game during that sweep - Shaq really was superman then and there was no kryptonite - literally the only thing that stopped him was his own conditioning and hunger - I think after the fourth somewhere something clicked that he was the best big man of all time - with nothing nor none to prove himself against - (its like he started competing against kobe instead of his potential) until the Dwight Howard's of the world - arrived - which is why he's so hard on howard, and why he probably felt he didn't have to win anymore - as the NBA became a small man's game. It was wild to live and grow through, though, the epitome of you had to be there. I would say it was like seeing michael jackson spin- like yeah, you can watch replays and reruns: though to see it in real time - living and breathing - knowing that godly talent was out there syncronistically - growing, enduring, and improving - watching the legacy in real time like a story book unfolding- not knowing how it was going to end - was wild, foreal. I'll say this, though, if Jason Kidd had the three point shot that he had in Dallas - they would have done better - that was the piece that was missing - his evolution from jersey to Dallas as a three point shooter is like a bobby Bushey switch up - it was almost characature-like in the way it came out of nowhere and yet was everything he ever needed lol.

Finally somebody telling it like it is. Talk that talk rj

Shaq was definitely Unstoppable back then definitely a pleasure to watch it live.

“If we had Shaq that probably woulda helped”😂😂😂

Our jj redick, but he play defense 🤣

As a Nets fan, thank you Richard Jefferson and crew. I got to go to games during their peak years and they were a lot of fun to watch. It’s true, Shaq was unguardable at that time. I was just listening to Rasheed Wallace say the same thing. It’s amazing how far the Nets were able to go with centers like Todd McCollough and Jason Collins.

Amazing content. Great back and forth with these 2, definitely need a TV show(and keep rj cursing please)

Shaq was the most physically dominant I've ever seen. Not the greatest, but definitely was the most dominant. Crazy that there was literally nothing you could do to stop him.

RJ taking more shots that '06 Kobe in this 😂

I got RJ and Reddick in my top ten favorite journalists of all time. here are some others: Troy Torain, Ian from forgotten weapons, Taku from outdoor chef life, stale kracker, Robert Arrington from deer meat for dinner, erik the electrik, bowmar bowhunting, and Trapper J.

Shaq was unstoppable during his peak ,never seen a player sp dominant in my life

Shaq got some guys contracts cause teams needed extra fouls. That’s wild

Oooh this is gonna be funny af. RJ is hilarious

I could listen RJ talking about basketball all day every day. Good views and fun af

This was the best show you've ever done. I only want you to invite guests that will give and take like RJ from now on! Hilarious yet also, 100% real talk.

I agree with richard’s shaq vs giannis argument overall, but to be fair, theyd probably have to change rosters if giannis had kobe playing with him

Shaq was ridiculous

In shape Shaq was unstoppable. Side note: Richard rockin' a gold Big Pilot -- beautiful watch :)

im old enough to remember when shaq first came to the league. most remember him during those late lakers years. but when he first hit the league, he also had agility and speed to go along with his strength. a dude that 7 foot, thats scary af

He was just too much. And as Kobe once said, he was a really really mean nasty guy. As sweet and funny as old Shaq is now, he was frightening

Imagine if Shaq truly worked hard.. he’d be regarded as one of the GOATs

I love how it's so raw and uncensored on here instead of ESPN 😂

It's not fair to compare Giannis to Shaq. I'm a big Giannis fan but Shaq was far more skilled in terms of footwork and post moves. We see the highlights of him dunking on everyone but he also had a nice touch 5 to 10 feet away from the rim.

Shaq was the most dominant center outside of wilt there's a video of shaq shaking wilts hand and shaq looking like he was shocked how big wilt was

I started dying laughing in the beginning at 1:18. When JJ listed Shaqs stats, in my head I was thinking “ wtf they could they have done against”. Then JJ “ WTF”. 😂😂😂😂😂

Facts man. He was the most unstoppable player I’ve ever seen.