Jacked-up Shaquille O’Neal teams up with Karl Malone to emphasize the size disparity between themselves and new era big guys in Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has an intimidating look coupled with his body size that helped him dominate and control games back in his days in the league. O’Neal also has a unique online presence and has never shied away from dishing big shots on anyone.

Recently, in his usual way of intriguing fans, Shaquille O’Neal teamed up with a fellow legend against the Duo of Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren just to demonstrate size disparity in different NBA eras.

Shaquille O’Neal teams up with Karl Malone to ridicule Wemby, Holmgren physique

Shaquille O’Neal, one of the few retired athletes who are very active on social media, often uses facts or memes to appreciate or criticize players and teams. Recently, O’Neal took a subtle shot at the tall frames of today’s big men, Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, using his Instagram post with the caption, “Bigmen back then vs big men now”.

Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal teams up with Karl Malone with the aim of  size disparity between themselves and new era big guys in Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren who are rookies
Shaquille O’Neal Via Getty

O’Neal has frequently talked about the difference in physicality between big men from the older era and those from the modern era. His recent Instagram post highlights this contrast, featuring Shaquille O’Neal & Karl Malone alongside Victor Wembanyama & Chet Holmgren.

There are various implications for Shaq’s social media activity. He might be praising the modern big men for adopting a playing style beyond just staying in the paint. However, the more obvious suggestion is that the Lakers legend is poking fun at the slender frames of the two rookies.

Gone are the days when big men were confined to playing solely in the paint. In today’s NBA, every team seeks a center who can score from three levels. While big men from the past heavily relied on their physicality, the modern big men can impact the offense in various ways, including playmaking and passing, beyond scoring and rebounding.

Shaq O’Neal’s workout routine

Shaquille O’Neal has a refreshingly simple approach to maintaining his fitness. He doesn’t bother with sophisticated workouts or intricate routines. Rather, he spends approximately an hour in the gym each day.

His strategy is to do aerobics for twenty minutes to get the blood flowing, then specific exercises to work the muscles in his chest, biceps, triceps, back, and sit-ups. Together with the cardio, it’s a concentrated 30 to 45 minutes that lasts for approximately an hour.

Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal teams up with Karl Malone with the aim of  size disparity between themselves and new era big guys in Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren who are rookies
Shaquille O’Neal Via Getty

Shaq has justifications for his regimen. He’s aware of his limitations because he has terrible hips and aching joints from previous basketball injuries, so he doesn’t want to run or leap.

He also works on muscle building. Building up his biceps provides him with a surge of positive energy. Therefore, he claims that this is his favorite aspect of working out.

His goal is to be in the best form of his life, and his abs are the key to that. When he turns 50, he wants to share a shirtless photo of himself on Instagram, and those abs will steal the show.

Shaq is now more driven than ever as he approaches the big 50. He’s waiting for the chance to announce his fitness triumph to the world with pride. The NBA legend may have a simple workout routine, but his ambition and drive are just as strong as his character.

Shariare Hasib

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Shariare Hasib is an NBA Editor at SportsKnot. With a master's degree in journalism from a prestigious university, Shariare started writing about the sport during his undergraduate years. Since then, he has been fascinated by LeBron James' lasting impact as well as Stephen Curry's incredible consistency. He specializes in live basketball coverage. Apart from reporting on trade speculations and match updates during off-season activities, Shariare frequently interacts with fan communities to stay abreast of the constantly evolving NBA scene.

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