NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal has always been a loud critic of the modern NBA, but went a step further recently, admitting that part of his criticism might be rooted in something a bit more personal.

Speaking on expediTIously with Tip T.I. Harris, O’Neal admitted that he is jealous of today's NBA players' lucrative salaries and that these players are taking their spot for granted.

“Listen, I’m professionally jealous of some of these bums making money. I am a hater. You’re making all this money but not protecting this thing of ours,” Shaq continued.

He concluded, stating, “Making all this money and not giving people a good show, at some point this thing of ours will end.”

NBA player salaries have surged a lot in recent years, so much so that even squad players' salaries often dwarf what legends were earning back in their prime years.

But over the course of Shaq's 19-year NBA career, he was often the highest-paid player in the league. There were nine seasons in which Shaq made at least $20 million, and he was the highest-paid player in the league in 1999/00, 2004/05, and 2005/06.

Overall, according to HoopsHype's salary data, O’Neal made $292,198,327 from his NBA contracts alone. Adjusted to inflation, that would be around $500 million, making him one of the top earners of the league today as well.

Shaq's largest NBA salary came in 2004/05, when he earned a league-high $27,696,430 from the Miami Heat. In the 2025/26 season, that salary would be the 64th highest among all players.

But for O'Neal, the concern is more related to legacy than just the money. He believes that after earning so much, players have the responsibility to uphold a certain standard of physicality and spectacle that they are not doing currently.

Shaquille O'Neal Believes Modern NBA Big Men are Soft

O'Neal believes big guys are stepping away from their traditional duties of prioritizing dominating in the paint, and instead aim for more perimeter skill (we can blame Steph Curry for that).

“I think it’s soft. When I was growing up I seen big dogs in the paint throwing elbows, when I started doing that everybody was scared of me and started fading out,” O’Neal said.

He added, “The Garnets, the Tim Duncans… You see these big guys now they’re picking and popping shooting 3s… When I had to guard them they would step out so as a kid you’re watching guys 6’10 shoot jumpers, that’s what you practice…"

“The game is softer. Big guys are soft and guys don’t take it seriously.” Shaq concluded.

O'Neal built his legacy around physical dominance. The paint was his territory, and the opposition could not do anything but adjust around him.

So naturally, when he sees centers like Victor Wembanyama or Kristaps Porzingis resort to shooting from outside the arc, his point stands.

So, do you think the NBA big man has gotten softer over the years, or has the league's "meta" just gradually changed? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Joy Bassy