Shaq Explained Why Giannis Antetokounmpo Doesn’t Need A Jumper To Be One Of The Best Players Ever

Giannis Antetokounmpo is enjoying a fantastic, breakout-worthy season and, at the age of 23, all indications are that he will serve as the centerpiece of a playoff-bound Milwaukee Bucks team. The 6’11 forward is averaging 27.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.5 blocks per game this season and it has been customary to daydream about what Antetokounmpo could become if he actually adds a dynamic perimeter jump shot to his already impressive arsenal of skills.

However, Shaquille O’Neal has other ideas and he shared as much live on TNT this week. In short, Shaq would go the other way with Antetokounmpo’s game, instead modeling it a bit after his own with a punishing style of interior play instead of following the advice of others with an eye toward developing on the perimeter.

Shaq asserts that Giannis “can be one of the best players ever without a jump shot” and that is unfathomably high praise given the source. It is difficult to imagine a player like Antetokounmpo ascending to that kind of dominance without something in the way of a threat beyond the paint, especially in today’s perimeter-focused NBA. Still, it is at least conceivable that he would be so dominant around the rim and on the defensive end to facilitate MVP-level play without the development of anything more than the jumper that has him converting 32.1 percent of his threes this season.

Of course, Shaq delivered his advice in typically Shaq fashion, telling Antetokounmpo to “punish these children in the paint” and to “put (his) head down and do what you do.” This also brings to mind the conundrum of what O’Neal’s own game would have resembled against modern NBA defense and in the present-day environment, and while Giannis and Shaq are (very) different players, some of the similarities in what O’Neal is calling for do make a lot of sense.

It seems unlikely that Giannis Antetokounmpo will stop trying to add a perimeter jump shot to his arsenal, if only because he would be completely and utterly unstoppable if that trait developed. At any rate, though, there is a path to greatness without it, and Shaq tried to light the way with his own personal spin.