Shaquille O’Neal addresses the controversy over Michael Jordan’s inflated stats.
Shaquille O’Neal recently shared his thoughts on the controversy surrounding Michael Jordan’s statistics, particularly the claims that Jordan’s stats were inflated by home statisticians. Shaq acknowledged that home statisticians might have favored Jordan and other all-time greats, but he believes that these historical details should be left alone and the focus should remain on the present.
“I knew they were. I sit there and watched John Stockton’s last game where he threw it to a guy, guy took 10 dribbles and two steps, and he was able to break the assists record. Do they give extra love at home? They do. But it doesn’t matter.”
“You want to impress me? Go back and change it. If you go back and change the Jordan stats, let’s go back and all the guys, Havlicek and Pete Maravich all the guys that shot behind the three. Let’s give them an extra point for all the deep range shots they got if you want to do that. Let it go. It’s unconfirmed.” (30:20)
Shaq drew a parallel with John Stockton’s assist record, noting that despite potential favoritism from home scorekeepers, Stockton’s record remains documented and should be respected. Shaq expressed frustration with the ongoing drama, suggesting that fans should move on from these unconfirmed allegations.
The controversy about Jordan’s stats arose after Yahoo Sports’ Tom Haberstroh reported discrepancies in Jordan’s steals and blocks during his 1988 Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) season.
The report highlighted that Jordan had significantly more steals and blocks in home games compared to away games, leading to allegations of inflated statistics. This sparked a debate among fans and analysts about the legitimacy of Jordan’s accolades.
Despite the controversy, Shaq remains firm that past achievements should be respected and not constantly questioned. He believes that altering historical records would not only be impractical but also unnecessary. Shaq emphasized that unless someone is willing to officially challenge and change the records, such discussions are pointless.
Shaq also mentioned that even if Haberstroh’s research is accurate, it would not change the fact that Jordan’s accomplishments are already enshrined in history. He argued that focusing on such controversies detracts from appreciating the greatness of players like Jordan and Stockton.
Moreover, Shaq’s stance is that statistical inflation, if it occurred, was not unique to Jordan but was a broader issue affecting many players. He called for fans and analysts to appreciate the achievements of NBA legends without constantly questioning their validity.
Shaquille O’Neal believes that while there may have been some favoritism in recording statistics, the past should be left as it is. He urges fans to focus on the present and future of the game rather than dwelling on unconfirmed historical allegations. Shaq’s perspective highlights the importance of respecting documented achievements and the legacy of NBA greats like Michael Jordan and John Stockton.
News
John Stockton Says One Of Jordan, LeBron, And Bryant Is Not Even A Top 5 Player Of All Time
John Stockton recently appeared on The Huddle, where the age-old question of who is the greatest ever came up once again. Stockton was asked if Michael Jordan, LeBron James, or Kobe Bryant is the GOAT, and not only did he refuse to pick…
Wolves guard says Lakers drafting Bronny puts LeBron ahead of Jordan in G.O.A.T. debate
The discussions of who the greatest player of all time (G.O.A.T.) is have always been subjective, and many folks have Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and Michael Jordan battling for the top spot. According to Monte Morris, James has overtaken Jordan…
Did Expansion Create A Watered-Down NBA During Michael Jordan Era?
Before he became coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, JJ Redick was an effective podcaster. He had a knack for tackling topics that raised questions. More importantly, they received attention. One of them occurred a few months ago when he…
There Was Only One NBA Great Who Beat Larry Bird, Magic Johnson And Michael Jordan
Former Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas often gets lost in the mix when it comes to talking all-time greats. Thomas has all the credentials. He’s won titles. He’s in the Hall of Fame. He’s one of the 50 greatest players…
Doncic is already on Michael Jordan’s heels and the legend admires him: He’s phenomenal
The Slovenian credits the second-best points average in NBA Playoffs history (31.1), behind only ‘Air’ (33.4), who signed him to his sports brand in 2019 Luka Doncic may be, with the exception of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the most decisive player of the…
Juan Toscano-Anderson seeds more doubt on the Anthony Edwards-Michael Jordan conspiracy
Juan Toscano-Anderson has his own idea of the Michael Jordan-Anthony Edwards conspiracy theory The comparisons between Michael Jordan and Anthony Edwards will not stop, they are even having similar starts of their careers but their alleged secret links haven’t been…
End of content
No more pages to load