Leave it to Shaquille O’Neal to deliver one of the funniest reactions of the week — all thanks to a breakout performance by a young Boston Celtics player.
During a recent episode of Inside the NBA, the Hall of Famer was watching highlights from Boston’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers when a name caught his attention.
Actually… it was more like it caught him completely off guard.
“I don’t even know who this kid is,” Shaq joked while watching Baylor Scheierman putting together a big game. “I ain’t ever letting nobody named Baylor or Scheierman score on me. Scheierman? Who he play for?”
Classic Shaq.
Of course, the funny moment had fans laughing, but it also gave Scheierman a little unexpected spotlight. And honestly, the rookie has been quietly earning it.
The Celtics’ New Connector
Scheierman, a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has been carving out a role in Boston during his second season. With superstar Jayson Tatum missing time earlier in the year, Scheierman stepped into the rotation and made the most of the opportunity.
Against Cleveland, he delivered one of his best performances yet — finishing with a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double that helped power Boston to the win.
Not bad for a guy Shaq had just met via highlight reel.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has been quick to praise the young wing, describing him as a “connector” — the type of player who does the little things that keep a team humming.
“He doesn’t care about starting,” Mazzulla said after the game. “He just cares about competing.”
That kind of mindset tends to earn respect fast in NBA locker rooms.
Tough Enough to Play Through It
Scheierman’s performance becomes even more impressive when you realize he’s playing through a thumb fracture he suffered last week. Despite the injury, he hasn’t missed any games — showing the kind of toughness coaches love.
Through 59 appearances this season, Scheierman is shooting nearly 39% from three-point range, while averaging 4.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in about 16 minutes per game.
Those numbers might not jump off the page yet, but for a developing role player on a contender, they show promise.
And clearly, he’s earning the trust of the coaching staff. Even with Tatum back in the lineup, Scheierman’s minutes haven’t disappeared. He logged 21 minutes against the Dallas Mavericks and 25 minutes in the Cleveland game.
Celtics Getting Healthy Again
Boston’s lineup is also getting a boost as Tatum works his way back from injury. The All-Star forward is currently on a minutes restriction, playing about 27 minutes per game while easing back into the rhythm.
Tatum admitted the restriction isn’t exactly his favorite thing.
“The toughest part is playing shorter stints and sitting longer than I normally do,” he said in a recent interview. “But I understand the bigger picture.”
While Tatum was sidelined, Boston relied heavily on younger wings like Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Hugo Gonzalez to help carry the workload.
Now that the team is getting healthy again, that extra experience could pay off when the playoff push begins.
Shaq’s Reaction Might Age Pretty Well
As for Shaq, his hilarious introduction to Baylor Scheierman might turn into one of those “remember when” moments if the young Celtic keeps developing.
After all, the Big Diesel has seen plenty of unknown players turn into stars over the years.
So who knows?
The next time Shaq sees Scheierman highlights, he might not be asking, “Who he play for?”
He might be saying, “Okay, I see you, young fella.”