What % of Shaq's potential do you think he actually realized?

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What % of Shaq's potential did he realize?

97%
4
12%
94%
6
18%
90%
9
26%
87%
3
9%
84%
4
12%
80%
5
15%
77%
1
3%
74%
1
3%
70% or less
1
3%
 
Total votes: 34

tsherkin
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Re: What % of Shaq's potential do you think he actually realized? 

Post#21 » by tsherkin » Mon Jul 17, 2023 8:25 pm

Texas Chuck wrote:Oh I know. Boban for instance has nice touch and his hands are much bigger than Shaq's. But I do think before just saying all NBA players should basically make every FT, there should be some understanding for why its not so simple. Just like when we were all 8, the sheer size of the ball limited how well the vast majority of us were ever going to be able to shoot. We had to grow into the ball. Well the same can be true in reverse.


Well, yeah. I mean there is obviously talent difference. There are physical deviations, la la la. And I'm sure you're correct and that his hand size contributed, absolutely. It's just interesting to see that sharp difference from practice to game. I've felt it well enough playing as well, it's just different. But to see that humongous drop down is still jarring.

And ironically as I got old and slow, I'm now a knockdown shooter. Still with ugly ass form and I shoot a set shot rather than a jumper, but now I'm a terrific spacing big lol.


At my peak, I could be counted on to make an open 3 pretty reliably, but I did almost everything 15 feet and in, heh. I don't really play anymore; my spare time athletics come in the form of judo and Brazilian jiujitsu these days, so I'm sure my touch is all gone. :(
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Re: What % of Shaq's potential do you think he actually realized? 

Post#22 » by Peregrine01 » Mon Jul 17, 2023 9:08 pm

Conditioning is often the biggest criticism with Shaq. Even then, I don’t see how you can play 38 minutes a game, make deep playoff runs year in and year out while not having any significant injuries during your prime and not be conditioned.

Now, he could’ve been more active on defense but that’s asking a lot of someone who’s 350 lbs. People seem to think that he’d be better off at 300 lbs but there are trade-offs with that.
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Re: What % of Shaq's potential do you think he actually realized? 

Post#23 » by Cavsfansince84 » Mon Jul 17, 2023 9:12 pm

Peregrine01 wrote:Conditioning is often the biggest criticism with Shaq. Even then, I don’t see how you can play 38 minutes a game, make deep playoff runs year in and year out while not having any significant injuries during your prime and not be conditioned.

Now, he could’ve been more active on defense but that’s asking a lot of someone who’s 350 lbs. People seem to think that he’d be better off at 300 lbs but there are trade-offs with that.


Are all 300(realistically more like 320lb) bodies the same though? Even Hakeem got into weight lifting and conditioning more in the 90's and it could be part of why he became even better on both ends. I don't think there can be any doubt that Shaq started letting himself go in the offseason after about 2000. I think Phil noted in one of his books that Shaq was coming into camp at over 390lb some years.
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Re: What % of Shaq's potential do you think he actually realized? 

Post#24 » by tsherkin » Mon Jul 17, 2023 9:35 pm

Peregrine01 wrote:Conditioning is often the biggest criticism with Shaq. Even then, I don’t see how you can play 38 minutes a game, make deep playoff runs year in and year out while not having any significant injuries during your prime and not be conditioned.


He missed 28, 31 and 22 games from 96-98. Then the lockout. Then 3, 8, 15, 15 and 15 games through 2004. Then he had 2005, and then he fell off a cliff health-wise, apart from his full season in Phoenix.

I see your point, and Shaq certainly spent time in the gym, but he definitely wasn't the healthiest guy. I think his style of play and how guys were basically permitted to just mug the crap out of him on every possession made a significant impact on things, including his personally-stated plan to add bulk as a form of protection after the abdo injury.
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Re: What % of Shaq's potential do you think he actually realized? 

Post#25 » by Heej » Mon Jul 17, 2023 9:59 pm

I'd say 87%. People forget he worked HARD in the weight room. For that era it was a conscious decision on his part to survive the abuse teams hurled at him with centers. Nowadays teams would try to pick and roll him to death and he'd definitely adapt to that to shut it down. Shaq had an acute sense of what his strengths and weaknesses were and which ones he decided to address and how.

His ballhandling, passing, touch with the jump hooks, and effort on the glass all speak to his insane work ethic. I mean you guys do realize that when he was younger he legit shattered both of his wrists skateboarding and probably hampered him for life as far as wrist mobility goes. And speaks to a pretty great natural work ethic early on.

I docked him 13% because of his attitude problems and lackadaisical approach to conditioning at times. Anyone who thinks Shaq didn't bust his ass or seriously entertains the idea that he only reached 60% of his potential is getting Skip Bayless'd.

Shaq said himself, he was the kid that was content with getting the Bs and having a good time vs busting his ass off getting 100s. I really do wonder what he would've been like born 30 years later and no wrist injuries. Think he could've been one of the best ballhandling bigs ever. His body control for his size is insane.
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Re: What % of Shaq's potential do you think he actually realized? 

Post#26 » by henshao » Tue Jul 18, 2023 3:18 am

Texas Chuck wrote:
henshao wrote:I just can't understand how a professional basketball player can't make a freethrow


try shooting FT's with a softball. You'd find it pretty difficult.


A softball, something traditionally thrown underhand?

In an interview with Business Insider, Shaquille O'Neal is quoted as saying, “I told Rick Barry I’d rather shoot 0% than shoot underhand. I’m too cool for that.”
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Re: What % of Shaq's potential do you think he actually realized? 

Post#27 » by FuShengTHEGreat » Tue Jul 18, 2023 4:11 am

My answer is about 90%.

I've been labelled a Shaq hater on here and admit I'm not as high on him as others in RealGM have been.

But no other 7+ foot player in NBA history spending the bulk of their career at 300 lbs or more had any sort of longevity to write home about. Look at comparably sized guys like Sabonis and Yao and how their careers went.

He might not have had 82 game seasons like other stars of his era, but it's extremely impressive his body held up to last that long.

I strongly disagree with the sentiment that Shaq left a lot on the table. Dominant peak comparable to anyone in history, multiple titles won, that's what you want from a #1 draft pick right?

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