Shaquille O’Neal’s résumé speaks for itself. But the next time he takes a shot at Nikola Jokić, maybe TNT Sports should hand him a map of Europe first. This wasn’t Adam Lefkoe’s fault, but Tuesday’s NBA on TNT fell into the usual timeworn debate of comparing past eras. Shaq’s podcast co-host teed him up with a simple question: Who would win: 2001 Shaq or 2025 Nikola Jokić? Without hesitation, O’Neal picked himself, dismissing Jokić as he so often does with big men of today.
2001 Shaq vs 2025 Jokić 🍿
Big Fella thinks it’s Serbian BBQ chicken 💀 pic.twitter.com/OJAVA45JI8
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 1, 2025
But then Shaq tried to get creative. He didn’t know what country Jokić was from, which is slightly less egregious than not knowing the name of the Detroit Pistons’ coach. However, when he quipped, “Slavian chicken — wherever he’s from,” Lefkoe quickly corrected him with “Slovenian chicken.” The only problem? Luka Dončić is from Slovenia, but Jokić? He’s Serbian. Sure, European countries might be relatively close, but Slovenia and Serbia are still over seven hours apart by car—plenty of time for Shaq to study a map.
“He’s Serbian, by the way,” Lefkoe pointed out. When asked what his stats would look like against Jokić, O’Neal confidently asserted, “I’m getting 40, and they’re going to have to double me. He is probably going to pick and pop … but after he shoots the 3, I’m running right to the middle lane, and the whole arena gonna yell, ‘Three seconds.’ I guarantee I’m going to hit way more twos than you hit threes.” Apparently, Shaq thinks Jokić’s brothers might want to challenge him too, humorously adding, “First play of the game, elbow [to the jaw].” At least he finally got the tagline right in the end: “Serbian BBQ chicken.”
Shaq may not have his geography straight, but he’s never lacked confidence. Whether or not Jokić would be “BBQ chicken” is up for debate, but at least he’d know which country he’s cooking in.
