Shaquille O'Neal believes Nikola Jokić wouldn’t stand a chance against him in his prime.
On Tuesday night's broadcast of NBA on TNT, Shaq Diesel was asked who would win in a matchup between today's Nikola Jokić and Shaq in 2001, when he was the most dominant big man in the game. According to Shaq, Joker would be straight food for him as he'll make the Denver Nuggets superstar have trouble guarding his "40"-point performance.
Shaq added more salt to the wound by claiming he would get the Jokić brothers riled up by giving the youngest sibling an elbow in the first play of the game.
"Slovenian chicken," said Shaq when asked what he would do to Jokic. "I'm getting 40, and they're going to have to double me, and he probably going to pick and pop and take me all that, but he probably won't be in the game awhile cause he shoot the three I'm running right to the middle lane and holding the rim [...] I'ma hit way more twos than you hit threes guarantee you that [...] and I'ma make his brothers want to fight me cause the first play of the game...elbow."
He ended his hypothetical scenario with "Serbian BBQ chicken" while referring to how he would demolish the Nuggets star.
Shaq explained that if the Jokic brothers had an issue with the elbow, they could discuss it with his brothers of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. The four-time NBA champion's comments came before Jokić had an incredible night in a losing effort against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jokić had 61 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and shot a ridiculous 54.5 percent from the perimeter. That incredible performance is just one of many in an MVP-caliber season for Jokić, where he's averaging 29.7 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists.
As great as Jokić is now, Shaq in 2001 was on another level. He was coming off a league MVP season and his first NBA title, setting the stage to completely dominate the league the following year. That season, he averaged 28.7 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.8 blocks while leading the Los Angeles Lakers to their second consecutive NBA championship."