If there’s one thing basketball fans know about Shaquille O’Neal, it’s this: he’ll tell you exactly what’s on his mind.
The Lakers legend has never been shy about sharing his opinions, especially when it comes to the purple and gold. And after Los Angeles reshaped its roster this offseason, Shaq had plenty to say about the team’s new look—and he managed to sneak in one of his trademark zingers along the way.
Last season, the Lakers rolled the dice on former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton, hoping he could become the long-term answer at center after the departure of Anthony Davis. Ayton arrived with plenty of talent and plenty to prove after being bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers.
On paper, the move made sense.
The Lakers needed an athletic big man to complement Luka Doncic and LeBron James, and Ayton looked like a low-risk opportunity with high upside.
Unfortunately, basketball games aren’t played on paper.
While Ayton showed flashes of why he was once considered one of the league’s brightest young centers, consistency proved difficult to find. Injuries to both LeBron James and Luka Doncic early in the season also made developing chemistry much tougher than anyone expected.
Still, the Lakers eventually decided it was time to move in a different direction.
This summer, Los Angeles traded Ayton to the Washington Wizards before completing a sign-and-trade to bring in defensive standout Walker Kessler, giving the team a fresh look in the middle.
That roster makeover caught Shaq’s attention.
Discussing the Lakers’ frontcourt, O’Neal praised the team’s collection of players who can finish around the basket before delivering a classic Shaq-style punchline.
“It’s only one great center and a lot of good centers,” he said before adding that the Lakers now have players who can make things happen around the rim—”unlike ‘DominAyton,’ who didn’t do anything.”
Leave it to the Big Diesel to come up with a nickname and a memorable one-liner in the same sentence.
To be fair, Ayton’s season wasn’t without challenges.
LeBron James missed the opening stretch of the year, while Luka Doncic also dealt with injuries early in the campaign. That meant Ayton spent much of the season trying to build chemistry with different lineups instead of the superstar duo everyone expected him to play alongside.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick also did everything he could to help the talented center succeed. Redick consistently showed confidence in Ayton, making an effort to involve him early on offense and encouraging him through the inevitable ups and downs of a long NBA season.
Ayton later acknowledged that support, thanking Redick and the coaching staff for sticking by him even as outside criticism grew louder.
Sometimes, though, a fresh start is exactly what both sides need.
Now the Lakers are hoping Walker Kessler can provide the defensive presence, rebounding, and consistency they were searching for all along. If he can thrive alongside Luka and LeBron, Los Angeles could once again have one of the league’s most dangerous lineups.
As for Shaq, his expectations for Lakers centers have always been sky-high—and understandably so. After all, when you’re one of the most dominant big men in NBA history, that’s a pretty tough standard for anyone to live up to.
One thing’s for sure: whether he’s analyzing the Lakers or handing out memorable nicknames, Shaq never disappoints when the microphone is on.