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What Shaquille O’Neal told LA Lakers star Deandre Ayton when he was drafted, ‘Don’t be the next…’

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Jul 4, 2025 8:00 PM ET

Deandre Ayton will begin the next chapter of his NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Following a two-year stint with the Portland Trail Blazers, the former No. 1 overall pick, Deandre Ayton, has joined the iconic Los Angeles Lakers.

After negotiating a contract buyout with the Trail Blazers, Ayton has signed a two-year deal at a mere $16.6 million. Now, that’s a huge steal.

Speaking of Ayton on the Lakers, it’s the perfect time to revisit what franchise legend Shaquille O’Neal told him in 2018.

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Shaquille O’Neal wanted Deandre Ayton to carve his own NBA legacy

Being the top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft as a center, Ayton was obviously compared to the Big Aristotle as many expected him to have a similar career trajectory as Shaq.

However, when O’Neal got a sense of it, he had a simple yet meaningful message for the then-Phoenix Suns star.

“I keep hearing that this Ayton guy can be the next Shaq. My advice to Ayton is, don’t be the next Shaq. Be the first Ayton. I wish you well. I hope you break all my records,” the Suns’ official X handle shared O’Neal’s message in 2018.

While O’Neal is a Hall of Famer and has won a plethora of accolades during his career, including four NBA Championships, he didn’t want Ayton to follow in his footsteps.

Instead, he urged the talented center to carve out his own NBA legacy during his career.

Deandre Ayton’s response to Shaquille O’Neal’s message

Feb 2, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (2) calls out in the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Getting any kind of message from a legendary figure like Shaq is a dream come true for any young prospect.

As expected, Ayton was elated after finding out what message Shaq had for him.

“You need to tell me that after this, so I can write it down and keep it in my room. That’s motivation right there to keep me going, now,” Ayton said, via Gina Mzell on X.

Fast forward to 2025, and Ayton will soon wear the iconic Purple and Gold jersey. This will be Ayton’s eighth season in his NBA career. He will be playing under head coach JJ Redick, who is fond of him.

So far, Ayton has averaged 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game over 398 contests in the league. That’s nowhere near O’Neal’s career averages of 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.

But as O’Neal’s motivation in 2018, Ayton needs to find his own identity in the league. Can he do that as a member of the Lakers? Only time will tell.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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