Shaquille O’Neal has played beside many notable figures in his NBA career, so he is qualified enough to spot a diamond when he sees one. That precious gem was none other than Lakers’ star LeBron James. On a recent episode of his “Big Podcast” Shaq called him the “best young leader” he has played with, even after playing with NBA legend Kobe Bryant as well.
“LeBron was probably the best young leader I’ve seen,” Shaq said and went ahead to admit that he was jealous of Bron for the power and privileges the latter had.
“I was kinda jealous of him because he got to do stuff I could never do,” Shaq continued. “Coach could be like, ‘Hey man we practicing at 10’ and LeBron would be like, ‘No we practicing at 12’ and the coach would be like, ‘Alright we practicing at 12.’ He got to bring his family members on the plane and people on the plane. I was like, ‘I’ve been the man for a long time I never really had this much power!'”, he narrated.
LeBron’s ability to influence decisions within the team was something that the former center admired and to some level envied. The two played for the Cleveland Cavaliers for a season (2009-2010) when Shaq, 37, was well past his prime time. On the flip side, LeBron had already become a star at the age of 25 and was compared with the best in the league.
Impressed by LeBron’s leadership skills at a young age, Shaq gave him an expensive present to show his admiration and sense of respect.
Shaq once gifted LeBron James a Rolls Royce
Shaquille O’Neal was quite popular for his off-court kindness towards teammates during his NBA career and afterward, which makes him a worthy contender for “Teammate of the Year.” However, the award didn’t exist in his era, but that didn’t stop Big Diesel from rewarding LeBron James a Rolls Royce on his birthday.
On the forward’s 25th birthday, Shaq gifted him a Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe worth $400k per Yahoo Sports. The amount certainly didn’t burn Shaq’s pocket because of the enormous wealth he has but it showed the regard he had for LeBron within a span of a year.
Despite Shaq’s off late criticism of him, the 52-year-old holds LBJ in the highest regard that the arguable GOAT of the game thoroughly deserves.
