The world of basketball is full of amazing athletes, but every now and then, someone comes along who is truly in a league of their own. They set a standard so high that decades can pass before another player even gets a seat at the table. We’re talking, of course, about the one and only Shaquille O’Neal.
This week, a rookie finally managed to punch his ticket to a club that has been exclusively reserved for the Big Aristotle himself. Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey—a towering 7-foot-3 and 305-pound force of nature—delivered an absolute masterpiece against the Sacramento Kings, dropping a career-high 32 points, snagging 17 rebounds, and swatting away five blocks in a decisive Grizzlies victory.
And here’s the kicker, the part that made the Diesel himself crack a smile: Edey became the first player to achieve that historic stat line since… you guessed it: Shaquille O’Neal.A Membership Fee of Pure Power
Let’s be clear: the “Shaq Club” isn’t for just anyone. The membership fee is nothing less than complete, utter, unguardable dominance. What Edey did—32 points on 16-of-20 shooting, without needing a single three-pointer or free throw—is a perfect echo of O’Neal’s era-defining power.
For decades, the league had no answer for Shaq. He was a wrecking ball with footwork, a smiling giant whose sheer size and skill demanded a whole new defensive strategy. Kings guard Malik Monk said it best about Edey, and it’s a line that could have been uttered by countless defenders facing Shaq: “He’s too big, too strong. He just lays the ball in, and we didn’t do our job early, so we made it easy for him.”
That is the essence of O’Neal’s legacy: making the impossible look easy, and making elite NBA defenders look like they’d forgotten how to play basketball. It’s a joyful, physically overwhelming style of play that defines the word “center.” Seeing a young man like Edey channel that Big Man energy is a wonderful sign for the game.From the Paint to the People
While Zach Edey is just starting his journey toward becoming one of the league’s most dominant big men, the legendary Shaquille O’Neal continues his reign as one of the world’s most dominant personalities.
From the broadcast booth to the boardroom, Shaq is everywhere. As a commentator, he brings the same unfiltered, entertaining approach to sports commentary that he brought to the court. He’s supportive, he’s funny, and he’s always ready to give a rookie his well-deserved praise—or a hilarious, good-natured roast. He’s leveraged his fame into a business empire, showing everyone that you can be legendary on the court and a powerhouse in life, all while keeping that signature, supportive smile.
In a league that’s always looking for the next big thing, this performance by Edey is a fantastic reminder that true dominance never goes out of style. The fact that a new generation is finally reaching a statistical mark set by O’Neal is less about the league catching up and more about celebrating the incredible, one-of-a-kind legacy that Shaq created. Welcome to the club, Zach! Just remember who paid the dues.