Shaquille O’Neal Once Shut Down Pat Riley Over Alonzo Mourning Comparisons

Shaquille O’Neal got away with that, as there was no disputing his statistics. But Pat Riley probably wanted his center to be physically better than he was with the Lakers. Eventually, the disagreements grew, and the center was out.

Fitter Shaquille O’Neal could have won more titles

6 months before Kobe Bryant passed away, he famously said that Shaquille O’Neal‘s work ethic stopped him from winning 12 NBA titles. That was the first major quote on his former teammate’s conditioning. Basketball fans know how the LSU alum slowed down after his glory days with the Los Angeles Lakers. Injuries took a toll on his body, most of which could be attributed to his lack of conditioning.

O’Neal was in peak shape during the first few years of his career. Other than that, he always came into training camp out of shape and had to work through the practices and preseason games to slowly lose weight.

Probably Pat Riley saw this and wanted his most important superstar to play as long as he could with the franchise. Had O’Neal worked on his conditioning, it is possible he might not have struggled with injuries during his time with the Heat.

During their championship-winning season, he missed 23 games. The following two seasons, he played a combined 73 games out of a possible 164. Had he been healthier, he and Dwyane Wade could have won at least 1 more title.

Work ethic stopped Shaquille O’Neal from becoming the best

Shaquille O’Neal was measured at 7’1″ and had an unreal combination of length, explosiveness, and strength. No one could stop him, even though teams spent years trying to find a player who could hold his ground against the Diesel.

He did have to learn how to step up and become a superstar. Thankfully, Hakeem Olajuwon taught him humility. Since then, the young center was on a mission. The only problem was his lack of work ethic. Apart from Bryant and Pat Riley, many others have talked about O’Neal’s lack of a work ethic. Every season, he would come into training camp heavier.

Weight is the biggest enemy of tall players. The various injuries the Hall of Famer suffered throughout his career all point to the same issue. Had he maintained his body, his career narrative could have been different.

2 more titles and a few more individual accolades could have made Shaquille O’Neal the greatest basketball player ever. Minus the ego and the casual approach to the game, the 53-year-old had everything in him to do so.