20 June 2023 , 19:13
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NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has welcomed Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic to what he has called the “Big Man Alliance”.
Jokic played a key role in helping the Nuggets win their first ever NBA Championship. The Serbian won the Finals MVP award after the Nuggets won 4-1 in the series against the Miami Heat.
The award for Jokic added to the two NBA MVPs that he won in back-to-back years in 2021 and 2022. The 28-year-old missed out on the award this year to Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid.
O’Neal has often praised Jokic during his time working as a pundit over the NBA Playoffs. And now the former Los Angeles Lakers star has sent another message to Jokic on Twitter.
O’Neal posted a graphic which featured himself, Jokic and six of the NBA’s best centers in history. The other players include Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Hakeem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson and Pat Ewing.
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Accompany with the graphic, O’Neal wrote a message to Jokic which read: “Welcome to the #bigmanalliance Joker,” which featured the nickname of the Nuggets star.
This is not the first time that O’Neal has sent such a message to Jokic. After Game One of the NBA Finals, the former Lakers star officially welcomed Jokic to the “Big Man Alliance” and explained why he was grateful to have watched the Nuggets centre live.
"One last thing, I don't give a lot of props to a lot of big guys but I give you (Jokic) all the props in the world, brother,” said O’Neal on NBA TV. “Very, very, very impressive to watch. I give it up to you."
Shaquille O'Neal has sent a message to Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)O’Neal added: "Joker, what can you say about him? Very impressive passing, scoring, leadership, and he's a true definition of letting the game come to you.
"Charles and myself, and Grant, sometimes, we would go get it. But, you know, the first five, six minutes, he probably didn't even take a shot.
“Most guys, especially the number one option, they're going to get it [and think] 'I want to score, but you know what? I'm going to look for my teammates. I'm going to create opportunities for them.'
"And he's a true definition of a great player. Not only does he make himself look good, makes everybody else look good. And I don't know if he's a pass first or a shoot first big man, but he definitely plays the game the right way.
"He was super impressive to watch. This is the new age era of a big man. He can go inside, he can [go] outside, he can pass, he can start the break.
“But again, if you're a smaller defender, your teammates are going against a smaller defender, he's not going to let you get away [with] that. He's going to make the right play every time. This guy is super impressive as a big man, and I'm happy I got to see him live."