The Big Diesel has weighed in on the argument of the summer. Who would win in a one-on-one match in their primes: LeBron James or Michael Jordan? Not surprisingly, Shaquille O'Neal is siding with the Greatest Of All Time.
"Mike," said O'Neal, winner of four NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers (2000-2002) and the Miami Heat (2006). "I think you have to go with a young Jordan every time."
"It would be an interesting game," said O'Neal. "Young LeBron was more like (Lakers Hall of Famer) Magic Johnson. He was sort of like Magic with Jordan's abilities. He liked to pass, and he liked to get it up.
"But Mike was Mike. He was just special, like no one else. He always did things no one else could do, and things you couldn't compare to anyone else. So he was special, and he'd win."
Source: Shaq picks Jordan over James - but 'Dr. J was best' - Yahoo Sports.
O'Neal played against Jordan, he even beat Jordan the year Jordan made his comeback in 1995. He played with and against James. He knows how good both players are. His point here is actually pretty salient, too. James' entire game is built on team basketball, making other players around him better, playing defense, converting that into offense, making the right play over and over. Jordan was much more "put you in space, and then break your soul into a thousand pieces and let Luc Longley sweep it up while I go smoke a cigar."
Shaq did give credit to Dr. J, who was his favorite player growing up. After watching Sixers-Celtics 82 on NBATV the other day, I get what O'Neal is saying there. Erving was always known for his acrobatics, but his pull-up jumper was a frozen rope as well.
What is surprising is that O'Neal didn't take James' brute strength, since that was Shaq's forte. James backing down Jordan is a physical problem that's hard to get around, no matter how much confidence you may have in Jordan's individual shake and bake. I'll say this, though. If it was make-it-take-it? Shaq's right. James may not even get to touch the basketball before Jordan's through.
