Shaquille O’Neal Demands Fans Include Steph Curry in GOAT Debate

NEW YORK, March 5, 2025 — Following the Golden State Warriors‘ 114-102 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal urged fans to place Steph Curry in the discussion of the greatest players of all time. O’Neal, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and TNT analyst, made his remarks during a post-game segment, emphasizing Curry’s impact on the game.

“As the supreme leader of the Big Man Alliance, I demand you fans to start putting Steph Curry in that greatest-of-all-time conversation,” O’Neal declared. “There’s Michael Jordan, there’s Kobe Bryant, there’s LeBron James. Start putting Steph in that conversation. I demand it.”

This statement underscores the high regard in which O’Neal holds Curry, who has consistently performed at elite levels during his career, evidenced by four NBA championships and multiple MVP awards. O’Neal reflected on his experiences playing alongside and against basketball greats, affirming that the conversation around the NBA’s best should include Curry.

“I played against Mike, played with Kobe, played against and with LeBron. They’re all great. But at some point, we’re going to have to put Steph Curry in that category,” he said. “I ain’t never seen nothing like that before, and nobody has. And how many [rings] has he got? Four, against LeBron. I demand that people start putting my guy in that conversation, period.”

While Curry’s performance against the Knicks was not his most extraordinary, he contributed significantly with 28 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. In the second half of the game, Curry scored 14 points during a crucial Warriors surge, including two late 3-pointers that helped seal the win. “It’s hard not to call that greatness,” said O’Neal.

In the aftermath of the win, Curry expressed admiration for his new teammate Jimmy Butler, who was instrumental in their recent success since joining the team. The Warriors have notably turned their season around after a sluggish start, reaching a 9-1 record since acquiring Butler.

“Y’all know who he is and what he’s been able to do in this league,” Curry said about Butler. “There’s a learning curve and a learning process for bringing in a guy like him, but we’re talking, we’re figuring it out daily.”

Curry’s performance this season remains impressive as he averages 24 points and 6.2 assists, shooting 44.7% from the field and 39.5% from beyond the arc. Against the Knicks, his performance included a noteworthy 5-for-9 from three-point range.

With Curry’s combination of skill, leadership, and evolving legacy, the push from O’Neal for fans to recognize him alongside the game’s legends may resonate as the debate over the greatest of all time continues. As the Warriors gear up for their next game against the Lakers, Curry’s ongoing excellence could solidify his place in that elite conversation.