Shaquille O’Neal candidly described the Boston Celtics’ victory as the ‘most boring finals ever’ in NBA history

Shaquille O’Neal recently shared his thoughts on the 2023 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. Despite attending Games 1 and 2, Shaq called the series the most boring finals in finals history.

Shaq explained that the reason for his opinion was the lack of a compelling storyline or dramatic moments in the series. He reminisced about iconic moments from past NBA Finals he watched as a kid, such as Magic Johnson’s skyhook and Larry Bird’s fading away jumpers. These moments, he said, created a narrative that elevated the experience for fans.

It was boring. It was the most boring finals in finals history…The reason why I stated the Finals were boring cause when I was a kid, there was always a story. Shaquille O’Neal said on the Big Podcast with Shaq

Shaquille O’Neal acknowledged that some might argue that the storyline of Kyrie Irving facing his former team, the Celtics, could have added drama to the series. However, he felt that it didn’t quite have the same impact as the classic matchups he grew up watching.

In summary, Shaq believed that the 2024 NBA Finals lacked the excitement and drama that defined past championships. While some might disagree, his perspective highlights the importance of a compelling narrative in making sports memorable and engaging.

Shaquille O’Neal defends Jayson Tatum’s celebrations during Finals

Shaquille O’Neal defended Jayson Tatum’s celebrations after winning his first NBA championship, saying it was a way of paying homage to his favorite players. JT had been accused of ripping off celebrations from Kanye West, Kobe Bryant, and Stephen Curry but Shaq saw it as a nod to the greats who came before him.

As a kid when you see those championships, you remember those moments… So, for him doing that, I thought it was just him paying homage to all his favorite players. Shaquille O’Neal added

Shaq recalled witnessing iconic championship celebrations as a kid and understood Tatum’s desire to emulate his idols. He noted that Jayson Tatum, who grew up watching Kobe Bryant and other legends win titles, was simply following in their footsteps.

Shaq ultimately saw Tatum’s celebrations as a moment of emotional release after years of struggling to win a championship. Whether or not the celebrations were original, Shaq believed that Tatum’s achievement was what truly mattered.