For more than two decades, debates about the greatest centers in NBA history have often come down to one question: how would modern stars deal with prime Shaquille O’Neal? Former NBA guard Nick Van Exel made his position clear during a recent appearance on the Out The Mud Podcast, arguing that neither Nikola Jokic nor Draymond Green would have an answer for the Hall of Fame center.
Van Exel, who played alongside O’Neal with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 1998, centered his argument on the physical demands of defending one of the most dominant interior scorers the league has ever seen.
“Joker is cold,” Van Exel said, via HoopsHype, praising Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. “But Joker cannot guard Shaq in the post. Like it’s that simple.”
The discussion began with Van Exel comparing the challenge of defending a dominant low-post scorer versus a perimeter-oriented offensive star. His point was straightforward: teams could live with contested jump shots, but prime O’Neal forced defenses to send extra help because of his ability to score efficiently near the basket.
That assessment is supported by O’Neal’s production throughout his career. Across 19 NBA seasons, the 7-foot-1 center averaged 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks while shooting 58.2% from the field. During his peak years, he routinely overwhelmed opposing frontcourts with a combination of size, strength and touch around the rim.
O’Neal’s most dominant campaign came in 1999-00, when he won the NBA MVP award after averaging 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 57.4% from the field. He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting that season and led the Lakers to the first of three consecutive championships.
Van Exel argued that a playoff series would magnify O’Neal’s advantage. He suggested that repeatedly battling the four-time champion in the post would gradually wear down opponents, reducing their effectiveness on the offensive end as a series progressed.
The former All-Star also dismissed the notion that Green could handle the assignment alone. While praising Green’s defensive accomplishments and impact, Van Exel maintained that O’Neal represented a completely different challenge than the small-ball centers and versatile big men Green has successfully guarded throughout his career.
“Draymond, you can’t guard Shaq,” Van Exel said. “Draymond couldn’t guard Shaq.”
