A fresh feud between Shaquille O’Neal and Chris “Mad Dog” Russo has surfaced in the public. The spat began when Russo said on TV that Shaq was the fifth-best center in NBA history, which infuriated O’Neal.

Russo continued to antagonize Shaq, claiming that Nikola Jokic is already a better all-time player than Shaq, Moses Malone, and Hakeem Olajuwon. This remark stunned sports experts Domonique Foxworth and Brian Windhorst on the show First Take.

Mad Dog Russo’s recent assertion on First Take has sparked uproar in the basketball world, as he brazenly declared that Nikola Jokic is superior to Shaquille O’Neal. Russo’s statement came as he praised the Denver Nuggets for their outstanding efforts in important games.

“I’m taking Denver. I love them, their, they; you can tell they’ve risen to the occasion in important moments. They have beaten the Celtics twice. They defeated the Lakers in LA when LeBron had his 40,000-point game.”

I saw him play the Warriors about two Saturdays ago in Golden State. They did an excellent job in the fourth quarter. They defeated Miami last night in a contest from last year in the NBA. “I adore this team.

Russo emphasized the Nuggets’ triumphs over difficult opponents such as the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and Miami Heat, underlining their ability to perform under duress. While admitting the greatness of Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, Russo reserved his highest praise for Jokic, even claiming that the Serbian big could be the greatest center in NBA history.

“Now they aren’t a fantastic historical team. They got two excellent players. Murray is fantastic. It’s crazy that he hasn’t made the all-star team. I mean, Jokic could be, at the end of the day, the best center in NBA history.”

“And that is saying a lot. He might be nearing the end of his career. He’s very good. He is better than Shaq. I’ll tell you that right now. Oh yes, he is. And not just Shaq. I mean, he’s better than Malone, Olajuwon. He does everything. He passes and dribbles. He is wonderful. “Jokic is fantastic.”

Shaq vs. Jokic: Who was the most dominant big man during NBA championship runs? – Los Angeles Times.

 

However, Shaq has previously voiced his appreciation for Jokic, so it would be intriguing to hear his thoughts on the subject.

Shaquille O’Neal is widely considered as one of the greatest centers in NBA history, thanks to his dominance and four NBA championships. On the other hand, Jokic, who has only played nine seasons compared to Shaq’s 19, has already achieved remarkable success, including an NBA championship and two league MVP awards.

Shaquille O’Neal showers praise on Nikola Jokic following the Nuggets’ Game 1 triumph, adding him to ‘The Big Man Alliance’ | Sporting News

Jokic’s diversified style of play, particularly his superb passing abilities, distinguishes him from Shaq. However, fighting against Shaq’s legacy is still a huge problem. Russo and Shaq’s relationship has worsened after Russo questioned the Orlando Magic’s decision to retire Shaq’s jersey.

Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal has criticized sports broadcaster Chris Russo, claiming that he has the ability to speak about sports. O’Neal noted that athletes such as himself and former NFL player Cam Newton are classified as “G-14” owing to their high-level athletic experience.

O’Neal notably criticized Russo for his lack of expertise about quarterbacking and recommended him to stick with traditional journalism. This critique may have stemmed from Russo’s evaluation of O’Neal as the fifth-best center in NBA history, below only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Wilt Chamberlain, and Hakeem Olajuwon.

Russo’s dig at O’Neal came amid a conversation over O’Neal’s claim that Warriors star Steph Curry should be considered the best player of all time.

When asked about Mad Dog’s comments on The Big Pod yesterday, O’Neal reacted with a simple question.

“Who is that?” O’Neal inquired upon hearing the recording. “Who the f is that?”

After obtaining some context, O’Neal announced his ranking among the NBA’s all-time best big men. (Hint: It’s not No. 5)

“I disagree; nonetheless, Kareem says yes. Wilt, simply because he has more points than me. This is the only issue I have with my career. I’ll let that go.”

“I am the most dominant center ever, and I never want to hear another name again. So it will place me at number three.”

“Come on Shaq, That Was Your Thing”: Nikola Jokic Calls Out Shaquille O’Neal After Kenny Smith Breaks Out ‘Perfect’ Serbian – SportsRush

When confronted about Russo’s comments, O’Neal originally questioned who Russo was before disagreeing with his position, claiming he is the most dominant center ever and should be ranked third among the finest big men in NBA history.