Former Los Angeles Lakers star Shaquille O’Neal was put on blast for his commentary on one of the hottest teams in the NBA with a little over a month to go before the start of the playoffs on April 19.
During an interview with the Big Podcast, O’Neal called the Detroit Pistons a “boring” team before erroneously claiming they had a record below .500.
O’Neal was reminded of the Pistons record. Detroit is in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a 37-29 record. After the reminder, O’Neal continued to take shots at the Pistons.
“You want to brag about a team that’s 32-26,” O’Neal asked. “Stop it. That’s not success. 40-20. We talked about it. Bro, Detroit Pistons ain’t winning no (expletive) championship. Stop it.”
It’s surprising O’Neal, who does NBA commentary on TNT, didn’t know what was going on with the Pistons. Detroit has been one of the many surprises in the league with Cade Cunningham having an impressive season.
Shaquille O’Neal called out for a bad take
Eric Vincent, a Pistons beat reporter for Clutch Points, called out O’Neal for his bad take. Vincent called the opinion “lazy and ridiculous.”
“This is why the league and why NBA media coverage is suffering,” Vincent posted on X. “Shaq’s just ripping the Pistons with no real logic and clearly doesn’t watch the team. This is so lazy and ridiculous.”
This is why the league and why NBA media coverage is suffering. Shaq’s just ripping the #Pistons with no real logic and clearly doesn’t watch the team. This is so lazy and ridiculous https://t.co/Vt9OjHzHE7
— Eric Vincent (@IAmEricVincent) March 11, 2025
The Detroit Pistons should be promoted
Vincent has a point about O’Neal doing a poor job of marketing the sport.
For all of the many flaws the NBA has with rule changes, load management, and an overemphasis on three-point shots, teams like the Pistons aren’t the issue for a boring Association.
Former players like O’Neal need to do a better job of promoting players like Cunningham and teams like the Pistons so people are interested in watching them.
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