Shaq makes bold claim: 'The European game is better than the NBA'

Shaquille O’Neal raised eyebrows with an unexpected comparison coming from one of the greatest legends in NBA history. The four-time NBA champion and former Los Angeles Lakers center was in Kaunas to attend the EuroLeague clash between Zalgiris and Olympiacos, making bold remarks that are bound to spark debate across the Atlantic.

"I know the European game is a little bit better than the NBA game. I know I'm going to get a lot of flak for saying that," he admitted, well aware that his opinion would cause a stir back home.

"In the EuroLeague, they play hard-nosed basketball for all 38 games. In the NBA, there's a bit of coasting until the All-Star break or the playoffs," he argued.

Shaq's most eye-opening remarks came when comparing player development on both sides of the Atlantic. "I've always said that Europeans have much stronger basketball fundamentals than American players," he pointed out.

"Americans might have more talent and jump higher, but Europeans start by playing basketball with their heads, whereas we like to rely on our athleticism," he explained.

Shaq also laid out his blueprint for building a top-tier contender in Europe: "You need one or two great players and build the team around them. Defensive specialists, shooters, and, above all, you have to want it more than anyone else."

O’Neal was in Kaunas as an ambassador for NordVPN, but his visit quickly gained widespread attention thanks to his startling comments.