Shaquille O'Neal Disagrees With LeBron James About Injuries This Season

Hall of Famer and TNT broadcaster Shaquille O'Neal has a different perspective on the abundance of injuries sustained throughout this NBA season. In an interview with CNBC, O'Neal asserted that with the money today's players are receiving, coupled with the fact that millions of people are getting laid off, he wouldn't be complaining about injuries.

The four-time champion made it a point of emphasis to talk about the beleaguered status of people compared to NBA players, noting that "all we gotta do is train two hours a day, and then play a game for two hours at night and make a lot of money."

When you’re living in a world where 40 million people have been laid off and I’m making $200 million, you won’t get no complaining from me, O’Neal told CNBC. I’d play back to back to back to back to back.

I’m not knocking what anybody said, but me personally, I don’t complain and make excuses because real people are working their tail off and all we gotta do is train two hours a day, and then play a game for two hours at night and make a lot of money...So my thought process is a little different.

O'Neal's comments are in response to LeBron James condemning the NBA in a Twitter rant. The four-time MVP repudiated the league's decision to have a condensed schedule and placed the onus on them for the inundation of injuries.

They all didn’t wanna listen to me about the start of the season. I knew exactly what would happen. I only wanted to protect the well being of the players which ultimately is the PRODUCT & BENEFIT of OUR GAME! These injuries isn’t just “PART OF THE GAME”. It’s the lack of PURE

— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 16, 2021

RIM REST rest before starting back up. 8, possibly 9 ALL-STARS has missed Playoff games(most in league history). This is the best time of the year for our league and fans but missing a ton of our fav players. It’s insane. If there’s one person that know about the body and how it

— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 16, 2021

works all year round it’s ME! I speak for the health of all our players and I hate to see this many injuries this time of the year. Sorry fans wish you guys were seeing all your fav guys right now. 🙏🏾👑

— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 16, 2021

James also lamented how the NBA should have heeded his instructions, stating that "if there's one person that know about the body and how it works all year round it's me." The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the first round of this year's playoffs, in large part due to the injuries of James and Davis. 

In this postseason alone, up to nine All-Stars have been affected by injuries.

Photo Credit:  Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports