Shaquille O'Neal Shades Kevin Durant For Taking "Easy" Way Out

Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal has taken a not-so-veiled swipe at Kevin Durant for his trade request from the Brooklyn Nets. 

Appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, Shaq said Durant wants to go to a contender because "it's easier."

"When you put a house together, you should live in it…You, as a leader, should make it work, but you don't want to make it work, I guess…You know he's probably trying to get to a contender. It's easier that way."

Shaq on Kevin Durant's trade request 😳pic.twitter.com/xxgMLBukSg

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) August 2, 2022

"When you put a house together, you should live in it,” said O’Neal. “He was the one who hired the architect. He was the one who got the other architect from Philadelphia. So, you as the leader should make it work, but you don’t want to make it work, I guess you go buy another house. So, I know he’s gonna probably try to get to a contender. It’s easier that way." 

Many players in the NBA try to hook up with a contender for a better shot at a ring, but Shaq was no doubt referring to two of Durant's other previous career moves, which include leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors right after OKC blew a 3-1 series lead in the 2016 Western Conference Finals to those Warriors.

Three years later, Durant left the Warriors after they lost the 2019 NBA Finals to the Toronto Raptors in order to team up with Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn.

Now, with the Nets in total chaos after getting swept out of this year's playoffs by the Boston Celtics, Durant has asked for a trade. He's got a big meeting this week with Nets owner Joe Tsai to discuss that very subject. 

Photo: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports