Have you seen any of the BIG3 games? Cool idea for a 3-on-3, league founded by the hip-hop musician and actor Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. The league consists of 12 teams whose rosters include both former NBA players and international players.
Over the weekend, Shaq was spotted at a BIG3 playoff game in Dallas. When asked for his own all-time dream BIG3 lineup. His answer was classic Shaq—bold, confident, and impossible to argue with.
“Me, Kobe [Bryant], and Penny [Hardaway],” O’Neal said without hesitation. “Undefeated. Never gonna lose a game.”
Now that’s a squad. Imagine stepping onto the court against a trio featuring Shaq’s unstoppable power, Kobe’s killer instinct, and Penny’s smooth all-around game. Forget about it—opponents wouldn’t stand a chance.
Shaq and Penny: The Orlando Magic Years
Before Shaq became a Hollywood star with the Lakers, he was dominating the paint in Orlando. From 1993 to 1996, he and Penny Hardaway formed one of the most electrifying duos in the NBA. Together, they powered the Magic to the 1995 NBA Finals, where they ran into the red-hot Houston Rockets. Though they came up short that year, the Magic looked like a dynasty in the making.
But fate had other plans. In 1996, Michael Jordan and his 72-10 Chicago Bulls reminded everyone who ruled the NBA. They swept Orlando in the Eastern Conference Finals, and just like that, the Shaq-and-Penny era was over.
Shaq and Kobe: The Lakers Dynasty
When Shaq joined the Lakers in free agency, he teamed up with a young Kobe Bryant, and basketball history was made. From 1996 to 2004, Shaq and Kobe built one of the greatest one-two punches the game has ever seen.
Their dominance peaked with a three-peat—NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Shaq was a force in the Finals, winning three straight Finals MVPs. But while the titles stacked up, so did the tension. Shaq and Kobe clashed off the court, and by 2004, the Lakers’ dynasty had run its course.
Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat, where he picked up another ring in 2006. Kobe went on to win two more championships in 2009 and 2010, finishing with five in total. Both men cemented their legacies as all-time greats.
Penny’s “What If” Career
Penny Hardaway didn’t have the same luck. Injuries robbed him of the chance to fully reach his potential, but fans who watched him in his prime know just how special he was. Even without the rings, Penny still earned four All-Star nods and three All-NBA selections. If health had been on his side, he might have been right up there with Shaq and Kobe in the championship conversation.
Will Shaq Ever Join the BIG3?
The BIG3, founded by rapper Ice Cube in 2017, has become a home for former NBA stars looking to keep the competition alive in a 3-on-3 format. Fans would love to see Shaq lace them up again, but don’t hold your breath.
When Cube’s son asked him to consider joining, Shaq laughed it off. “Never. Too old,” he said. And he’s probably right. At 53—and fresh off hip replacement surgery last year—Shaq knows his playing days are over. These days, he’s happy breaking down games on TV, running his businesses, and keeping fans entertained.
Still, imagining Shaq, Kobe, and Penny on a BIG3 court? That’s the kind of dream team that reminds us just how larger-than-life the Big Diesel really is.