Mac McClung on his NBA Mount Rushmore of dunkers :

Zach LaVine
Vince Carter
Michael Jordan
Dominique Wilkins

Do you agree with this list?

(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/pLenByDS3s

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 16, 2024

Jordan and Wilkins acknowledged that the Slam Dunk contest isn’t what it used to be, with NBA superstars refusing to take part. However, Jordan was quick to point out that it has become more difficult now as the players need to be more creative. For them, there weren’t any varieties of dunks that the fans had seen, whereas, over the years, they have witnessed everything. This leads to the participants having to either repeat or be extra creative.

In an article by ‘AP News‘, the six-time NBA champion talks about his Slam Dunk Contest experience and battles with Wilkins before choosing his best dunk over the years. He says, “The most amazing dunk I have ever seen is probably Vince Carter when he hung his elbow in the rim. To me, that was, without question, just unbelievable.” Michael Jordan, like most of us, believed that the Vince Carter dunks were the best in the history of the contest.

Despite having some of the best sky-walkers in his era, he still gave Carter the nod. In fact, most of Jordan’s dunks still remain iconic. No one can ever forget the dunk from the free-throw line that left the whole arena gobsmacked. That being said, no one would debate Jordan picking Carter. Arguably, one of the greatest dunkers in the NBA, Vince Carter was ‘half man-half amazing’. His dunks have become the barometer for any young player wanting to prove himself in the contest.

Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins talk about LeBron James

The All-Star Dunk Contest lineups have taken a 180-degree flip over the years. Earlier, it had All-Star caliber players participating, whereas now, most names are unknown to the casual NBA fan. The last two editions of the contest have been won by a G-League player. Wilkins and Jordan realized the shift and talked about wanting to see NBA superstars like LeBron James participating in the contest. Here is an excerpt from the ‘AP News’ article:

“‘I’d have loved to have seen LeBron,’ Wilkins said.

Jordan agreed, saying he knows fans are clamoring to have seen James try it at least once.

‘What we did in the game and excitement that we created when we did dunk,’ Jordan said. ‘People wanted to see that. Is it the same today? Maybe not.'”

Michael Jordan agreed with his fellow competitor and talked about the excitement slowly dying out from the contest. And, they are not wrong. Over the past few years, the Slam Dunk Contest has lost its charm as NBA stars refuse to participate. There is no dearth of talent in the league at present. NBA stars like Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant, and Zion Williamson can still revive the contest if they are willing to do so. The NBA should take a hard look at the future of the competition.

The post “Most Amazing Dunk I’ve Ever Seen”: When Michael Jordan Discussed Dunk Contests With Dominique Wilkins, Brought Up LeBron James appeared first on The SportsRush.

“A lot of the guys we’re not seeing in the dunk contest anymore, don’t want to be put in a box as a career dunker, only known as a dunker.”

“A lot of the guys we’re not seeing in the dunk contest anymore, don’t want to be put in a box as a career dunker, only known as a dunker.” @mrvincecarter15

: https://t.co/qYBPWhYgh7 pic.twitter.com/9mdr371guJ

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) February 20, 2024

Carter noted that two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion Zach LaVine did not chase a third straight title because he did not want to build a reputation of solely being a good dunker. The Hall of Famer also added that reigning two-time champion Mac McClung risks the same. The G-League star has won the event in back-to-back years and has become one of the main attractions during the All-Star weekend due to his dunking skills.

Carter claimed that McClung has used the Slam Dunk Contest well to become a recognizable name among NBA fans, but he’s only known as the ‘dunking kid.’ He is spot on. After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, McClung joined the Los Angeles Lakers‘ G-League team, the South Bay Lakers, and has since played for three more franchises in the NBA’s minor league.

In three seasons in the G-League, he has averaged 21.2 points, 6.4 assists, and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 51% from the field. Despite his incredible numbers, McClung has played only four games in the NBA. He’s only known as a dunk specialist despite being a 41.9% shooter in the G-League from beyond the arc. Staving off that reputation will be difficult, and he’ll have to continue to grind in the G-League to find a permanent spot on an NBA roster.

The Slam Dunk Contest’s dwindling reputation

The Slam Dunk Contest has gone from one of the main attractions of the All-Star weekend to the event everyone complained about. Fans are swiftly losing interest in it due to the lack of participation from recognizable names.

Jaylen Brown decided to step up and change the narrative about the league’s best players ducking the Slam Dunk Contest, but the move backfired. He was trolled incessantly for his performance, especially his dunk involving streamer Kai Cenat. The Boston Celtics star made the 5-foot-3-inch internet sensation sit on a chair underneath the rim and leaped above him for a dunk. Fans and analysts were thoroughly unimpressed and called Brown out for it.

Jaylen Brown easily had the worst dunk ever, Kai cenat as a prop pic.twitter.com/QE1gwQnyCH

— ️ (@PoloDmitch) February 18, 2024

The 3-Point Contest has taken over the Slam Dunk Contest as the marquee event of the All-Star weekend. The NBA needs to persuade superstars to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest to make it the unmissable event it used to be.

The post “Put in a Box as a Career Dunker”: Vince Carter Believes the Reason NBA Players Avoid All-Star Dunk Contest Can Become Mac McClung’s Advantage appeared first on The SportsRush.

ESPN’s First Take analysts Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe were utterly disappointed by the show put on by the best players in the league. They talked about the Slam Dunk Contest, which has not been living up to its billing for quite a while now, and Shannon had this to say,

“Aaron Gordon jumped over Tacko Fall. Mac McClung jumped over Shaq. Jaylen Brown jumped over Kai Cenat. What am I supposed to do with that Stephen A? They should have gave him a 2 across the board… [Brown] got 40+ points.”

“Aaron Gordon jumped over Tacko Fall. Mac McClung jumped over Shaq. Jaylen Brown jumped over Kai Cenat. What am I supposed to do with that Stephen A? They should have gave him a 2 across the board… [Brown] got 40+ points.”

– Shannon Sharpe pic.twitter.com/oMnmFowNcA

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 19, 2024

Shannon prefaced his argument by stating that the participants in the Slam Dunk contest have become largely unknown, unlike the earlier days when superstars lined up to compete. The only players he knew were Jaylen Brown and Mac McClung. Sharpe went on to rip Jaylen Brown for dunking over a shorter person – Kai Cenat, rather than his predecessors jumping over taller players like Shaquille O’Neal and Tacko Fall. To add to the embarrassment, Kai Cenat was made to sit on a chair when Brown dunked over him. The NBA analyst believed that the Celtics player should have gotten 2 out of 50 for his effort and was appalled that the judges gave him a 40+ score.

If compare the dunks in this year’s contest to the Aaron Gordon and Zach Lavine show, it is clear that none of them deserved a 40. Sharpe did give McClung flowers for putting on a show, but even he could not save the event. The dunk contest has been declining for a while, and the fans would hope that the NBA does something to revive it to its previous glory. The NBA has its task cut out for them as the All-Star weekend is slowly turning into a snooze-fest.

Michael Rapaport sounds off on the dunk contest

The 2024 All-Star Slam Dunk Contest left many disappointed and questioning the future of the event. The most talked about event in the NBA is broken into shambles and becoming difficult to watch with every passing year. Hollywood actor and an avid NBA fan – Michael Rapaport, took to Instagram to express his frustration over the event and said:

“This is the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. You gotta have active NBA players who are on NBA rosters…I know you all [active NBA players] need rest. Dominique didn’t need rest, Dr. J didn’t need rest, Vince Carter didn’t need rest…Rest up, and let YouTube guys, let streetball players get into it, let college players get into it. You sit there and ice your knees and don’t participate. This sh*t isn’t bouncing.”

 

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The actor believes that if the NBA players aren’t up to the challenge, we should open it up to college players and freestyle dunk artists. He believes the NBA players are tarnishing the reputation of their predecessors who competed to win. The dunk contest has had players like Michael Jordan, Julius Erving, Dominique Wilkins, Vince Carter, and Kobe Bryant in the past. However, in the past decade, only a few of the NBA big names have taken up the challenge.

The post “Jaylen Brown Jumped Over Kai Cenat”: Shannon Sharpe’s Scathing Reaction to All-Star Dunk Contest Aimed at Judges appeared first on The SportsRush.

Lazenby is a renowned sportswriter who has written dozens of nonfiction books and countless articles and columns, which capture the intriguing inside stories of the basketball and football world in America. The author of books like The Lakers: A Basketball Journey, Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant, Bull Run! The Story of the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, and Michael Jordan: The Life, Lazenby has had a front-row seat to the NBA’s mid-season gala for decades now.

He noted, during the interview, how he could sense an alienation of the league’s age-old customs during the All-Star break with the rapid globalization of the NBA in the past two decades or so.

“The globalization of basketball has changed Public Relations in the NBA. This weekend we’re gonna have the NBA All-Star game. I used to go every year because I could hang out and talk to all sorts of people and have wonderful conversations. But that began to change about 2000, when Michael Jordan went to Washington,” Lazenby told The SportsRush.

He admitted that the NBA’s attempt to target a global audience has made the league more lucrative and a better brand. However, Lazenby lamented that the glitz and the glamor of the modern NBA has rendered candid conversations that he used to have with players in the locker room during the All-Star break a relic of the past. The Michael Jordan: The Life author noted that the locker rooms are too crowded nowadays to unfold engaging stories, that he so often does in his popular books.

Had the pleasure of interviewing Roland Lazenby for @TheSportsRushUS @lazenby pic.twitter.com/B3Tqey1jaD

— Adit Pujari (@pujariadit7) February 16, 2024

Instead the modern landscape is more interested in creating a more vibrant product that dazzles the audience. “That changed everything, particularly at the All-Star game, because you had these platoons of reporters and it sort of created a crushing crowd. And PR was suddenly managing everything,” the 72-year-old author added.

Meanwhile, Lazenby reminisced about a wonderful conversation that he had with the late great Kobe Bryant in the locker room before the 1997 All-Star Slam Dunk Contest. However, he noted in a dejected voice that those conversations are lost forever in today’s NBA. The crushing machine that is the NBA media makes it impossible for players to have sincere relationships with reporters anymore, something that Roland Lazenby had with Michael Jordan.

The post EXCLUSIVE: “When Michael Jordan Went to Washington” – Roland Lazenby Details How Global Fame Has Changed the NBA All-Star Weekend appeared first on The SportsRush.

Damian Lillard grabbed headlines after winning the NBA All-Star Three-Point Contest on Saturday. However, the Milwaukee Bucks star one-upped his own showing on Sunday to record a dominant 39-point performance in the highest-scoring game in NBA All-Star history. Courtesy of Lillard’s strong showing, the Eastern Conference stars defeated the West 211-186 in what turned out to be an absolute bucket fest.

Damian Lillard kept the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd in Indianapolis on their toes with his scoring rampage. Let’s now take a closer look at his MVP-caliber performance.

How Many Points Did Damian Lillard Have Tonight?

Damian Lillard had 39 points in the East-vs-West clash on Sunday. The veteran guard had earned a starter spot as the Eastern Conference PG this year. He made the most of this opportunity and tallied the second-highest score of the contest, shooting 53.8% from the floor.

The All-Star game is notorious for players not putting much effort on the defensive side of the floor. Taking advantage of the holes in the West’s defense, Lillard managed to put up some big numbers quite easily.

What was Damian Lillard’s FG% during the All-Star Game?

Lillard attempted 26 field goals during his 28 minutes on the floor and converted 14 of them. That takes his FG% to 53.8%.

How many three-pointers did Damian Lillard make during the All-Star Game?

Dame Dolla is widely hailed as the best three-point shooter in the league after Steph Curry. Lillard went into Sunday’s contest with all the confidence in the world after putting on a deep shooting clinic on Saturday in the “Starry” 3-point contest.

In the All-Star game, Lillard attempted a staggering 23 three-pointers. He made 11 of them, which means that he shot 47.8% from beyond the arc.

How many assists did Damian Lillard register during the ASG?

Lillard didn’t shirk his playmaking responsibilities in his attempt to score more points. The 33-year-old had six assists in the game.

Did Damian Lillard win the MVP for All-Star Game 2024?

Damian Lillard did win the MVP of the All-Star game for leading the East to a 25-point victory. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 50 points in the contest but missed out on the award after his side’s losing effort.

On the other hand, Lillard made history by becoming the first NBA player ever to win the All-Star Game MVP and the Three-Point contest the same year.

The post How Many Points Did Damian Lillard Have Tonight and Other FAQs About the Bucks Star’s All-Star Performance appeared first on The SportsRush.

Shaq shared a video of Patrick Mahomes hooping pic.twitter.com/rKLnY5hP5h

— What are NBA Celebs Upto? (@NBACelebsUpdate) February 18, 2024

Patrick Mahomes may be one of the best quarterbacks in the history of football, but he is no scrub when it comes to basketball. In the video, the player is seen putting a plethora of moves on his defender which are beyond impressive. The NFL superstar starts with an in-and-out dribble near the three-point line and crosses his defender before showing his dribbling skills to split the gap between two players. He then proceeds to do a spin move in the paint and finish at the rim. The moves by Mahomes were beyond impressive and got a roar from the crowd. Here is the video:

 

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A post shared by Chad Jacob Merrill (@chaddychadletsgetit)

The moves shown by Mahomes in the video should not come as a surprise to the fans as the NFL player played basketball for his high school – Whitehouse High School, Texas. Mahomes had the complete offensive firepower. He could attack the rim and finish over larger defenders, shoot from long distances, and knock down mid-range shots with ease. He was the quintessential shooting guard. The NFL champion played football, basketball, and baseball growing up.

It is no wonder that Shaquille O’Neal was surprised by what he saw. With Mahomes being as good as he is at football, many would have likely thought that he spent little to no time on any other sport. However, as it turns out his level of skill at the sport of basketball is well above the average. In fact, some might even argue that he may have had more than a slight chance to make it to the NBA.

Patrick Mahomes talks about his basketball game

Patrick Mahomes is supremely confident in his basketball abilities. During an interview, he talked about the kind of player he would be if he continued to play basketball, much to the amusement of the reporters in the room. The three-time NFL Super Bowl champion believed his game would have been similar to the Golden State Warriors player – Stephen Curry. Here is what he said:

“If I played basketball, I would be just like Steph Curry. I mean, I got the shot. I just got to a get a couple of extra reps, a couple of shots up and I will be shooting just like him. I mean that’s who I’ll be.”

Mahomes believes the only thing stopping him from becoming Steph Curry is just a couple of additional repetitions on the basketball court. Of course, the player was having fun while saying that to the reporters, but seeing his high-school game, an NBA career does not seem impossible for a young Mahomes. Being like Steph Curry, though, is a whole other debate.

The post “Throwback to Patrick Mahomes Hoopin”: Shaquille O’Neal Digs Up Rare Footage of NFL Superstar Showing Off Basketball Skills appeared first on The SportsRush.

Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest player of all time, and the only other name that comes up in the same conversation is LeBron James. Even though these two legends never got a chance to play against each other in the league, there seems to be a competition within them. Jordan, arguably the most competitive person, studied LeBron’s game despite knowing he would never face off against him.

According to the six-time NBA champion, James prefers his right hand when trying to drive to the basket. With James’ height, body, and athletic ability, Jordan knows it would be an impossible matchup. Hence, if he were to defend the four-time NBA champion, he would prefer to force him to his left and settle for a jump shot or pass the ball. The NBA Hall of Famer broke down his defensive strategy on LeBron,

“I study him. When LeBron goes right, he usually drives; when he goes left, he usually shoots a jumper. It has to do with his mechanics and how he loads the ball for release. So, if I have to guard him, I’m gonna push him left 9 out 10 times. If he goes right he’s going to the hole and I can’t stop him. So, I ain’t letting him go right.”

February 17, 2013: In an interview prior to the 2013 All-Star game, the “Mentor” -Michael Jordan – offered his blueprint for defending Lebron James:

“I study him. When LeBron goes right, he usually drives; when he goes left, he usually shoots a jumper. It has to do with his… pic.twitter.com/42MukfJlKQ

— The NBA Realist (@nbarealist23) February 17, 2024

Jordan revealed his strategy in an interview before the 2013 All-Star game featuring LeBron James. It also featured the late-great Kobe Bryant, who was diligently taking notes from his mentor. As expected, the Los Angeles Lakers legend decided to implement his big brother’s advice on the court and played lockdown defense during the All-Star game.

Kobe Bryant’s defense against LBJ in the All-Star game

If there is one person who took the competition as seriously as Michael Jordan, it was Kobe Bryant. His ‘Mamba Mentality’ saw no bounds and applied to the All-Star game as well. After taking Jordan’s advice on guarding LeBron, the five-time NBA champion restricted the player to 19 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds on 38.9% shooting from the field, along with 4 turnovers.

The 2013 All-Star game was not the only time Bryant challenged LeBron. In 2012, the two players faced each other in the All-Star games’ East versus West matchup, and the game came down to the wire.

With 15.3 seconds left on the clock, the East were down by two points and had possession of the ball. Bryant was guarding James as if it were the NBA Finals, and LeBron had two chances to take the shot over Kobe but instead decided to pass the ball.

After the buzzer sounded off, Bryant was unhappy with James’ approach and called him out for passing the ball twice. It just goes to show how dedicated Bryant was toward the game and never let his guard down, irrespective of the moment.

The post “When LeBron James Goes Right, He Usually Drives”: Michael Jordan Breaking Down How to Defend LBJ Before 2013 All-Star Game Resurfaces appeared first on The SportsRush.

Klay Thompson’s season has emulated that of his franchise and has been very inconsistent. He has not looked like the Hall of Fame player we have gotten accustomed to seeing. Even during the Warriors’ recent 8-2 run, Thompson has been all over the place regarding his shooting and decision-making. This slew of bad performances forced the head coach to bring him off the bench for the first time in his career since 2012. And what a decision it turned out to be!

Warriors played their last game before the All-Star break against the Utah Jazz, and Thompson was asked to come off the bench. The player embraced the role and came out with blazing guns. He scored a season-high 35 points, played solid defense, and did not turn over the ball. He looked like the Klay Thompson of old. It would be premature to overreact to one performance, but the four-time champion did look more comfortable on the court.

Thompson’s performance became the conversation point for all NBA media shows. ESPN’s ‘First Take’ Analyst – Stephen A. Smith, gave his viewpoint and kept it very real. He acknowledged his performance but did not overreact because he believes Klay has set himself to higher standards over the years. With examples of his record-breaking performances, Smith believes that the NBA player has more to offer. Here is what he said:

“….We are talking about one of the greastest shooters in the history of the league. So what I want a guy like Klay Thompson to hear is two things. Don’t try to get over, bro. Ain’t nobody saying Klay Thompson can’t play. Ain’t nobody saying that Klay Thompson isn’t a future Hall of Famer. Ain’t nobody saying that Klay Thompson is not one of the greatest shooter this game has ever known. What we are saying is, you haven’t measured up to the standards that you have spoilt us with over the course of your career before you got injured.”

.@stephenasmith is confident Klay Thomspon will thrive off the bench, but says he’s “not out of the woods” yet. pic.twitter.com/Dp3V81y2Ln

— First Take (@FirstTake) February 16, 2024

The NBA Analyst talked about the Warriors player going 0-4 in the fourth quarter despite having his best game of the season. Klay has been struggling to perform in the fourth quarter. After two major career-altering injuries, his legs seemed to run out of juice. The analyst also believes the NBA champion will thrive coming off the bench, as it will lead to less exhaustion and pressure to perform from the jump. Smith was adamant in pointing out that these performances were not a knock on the player, and most of the franchises would avail his services without batting an eye.

It’s hard to disagree with Stephen A. Smith’s comments about Klay Thompson. The player has most certainly set incredibly high standards for himself. And so, while the performance against the Jazz is a start, there is more to the road that Thompson is on. Now, the only hope is that he doesn’t go awry all over again.

Klay Thompson to continue off the bench

After his scintillating performance off the bench, one would assume that Klay Thompson will be back in the starting five. However, that will not be the case. After the game, Golden State Warriors head coach – Steve Kerr confirmed that he would be trying out this new line-up for the near future unless he sees any reason otherwise. Here is what he said:

“Klay coming off the bench gives us a lot of firepower. We’ll give it a little look and see where it goes from there.”

Klay’s recent struggles did force Kerr’s hand into starting him off the bench, but that’s not the only reason. The head coach likes what he is seeing from the rookie – Brandin Podziemski, and believes he gives the starting five a better flow. Thompson has embraced the new challenge from his coach and said the following in the post-game conference:

“Throughout the game, when I’m running with the second unit, I realised I might be more of a focal point to the offense. That’s a fun role to play. I just wanted to take it upon myself to prove to coach [Steve Kerr] that I was going to respond like the champ I am.”

Though one game is a small sample size, the Warriors will feel like this could be the beginning of something new. With the team playing better overall since the return of Draymond Green and the resurgence of Jonathan Kuminga, the San Francisco franchise can make some waves in the post-season. However, they cannot do it without Klay Thompson, and this could be a brilliant step towards unlocking the future Hall of Fame player.

The post “Don’t Try to Get Over, Bro”: Stephen A. Smith Provides Klay Thompson a Reality Check After 35-Point Game appeared first on The SportsRush.

The WNBA three-point line is shorter in length as compared to the NBA. The NBA has a 22-foot 3-point line in the corners and a 23-foot, 9-inch line in the rest of the arc. The WNBA and the international game play with a 20-foot, 6-inch line. So, Ionescu had a choice to make when going up against an NBA player. When the show hosts probed into the reason, she explained,

“That was kind of what I wanted to do from the beginning. Just understanding, where I normally shoot from is that range. That’s where I practice from. Being able to have the opportunity to go out there and prove a lot of people wrong. I have been hearing a lot of people think that I can’t do it, that women can’t shoot from that far. So, just kind of checking that off the box in terms of knowing what I am capable of doing and given the opportunity to go out there and put my best foot forward.”

“I’m using the men’s line.”@sabrina_i20 talked to @TermineRadio and @Jumpshot8 about her upcoming three-point contest against @StephenCurry30.

Hear more from All-Star weekend on NBA Radio all weekend long!

Listen LIVE: https://t.co/Siy1ymsiBT pic.twitter.com/m0K43NRstn

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) February 16, 2024

Sabrina seems as confident as you would see any player in her situation, and she has every right to be. She is the champion and holds the record when it comes to shots made in a three-point contest. Stephen Curry, on the other hand, is the challenger in this situation. And he is aware that he has a worthy opponent in front of him. As the greatest 3-point shooter in the history of the NBA, Curry would like to maintain that tag after the weekend in Indiana.

NBA players choose between Sabrina Ionescu and Curry

With all the hype around the Sabrina and Curry matchup, NBA players are getting into the action by predicting their winners. Steph Curry’s teammate from the Golden State Warriors – Klay Thompson, has chosen Sabrina Ionescu instead of his ‘Splash Brother’. Seeing the clip of Thompson choosing his opponent, here is how Curry reacted,

“This is exactly why we should do this. Especially for the shooters, he knows what it takes to put the ball in the basket. He has won a three-point contest. He knows how ridiculous Sabrina record was. So, he is going with the champ. I am the contender and I can’t wait to walk back to the locker room and prove them wrong.”

 

Curry’s former teammate – Kevin Durant, also chimed in with his pick for the contest. However, Durant does not seem to be confident and has been switching between the two contenders. After picking Curry initially, he pivoted to Sabrina, before going right back to his former teammate. Draymond Green, on the other hand, has picked Steph and is fairly confident his Warriors teammate is going to win. For the fans, irrespective of the winner, it will be a matchup for the ages.

The post Determined To Beat Stephen Curry In His Domain, Sabrina Ionescu Explains Why She Wants To Shoot From The NBA’s 3 Point Line During Their Contest appeared first on The SportsRush.

The 7ft 1″ center was a beast on the basketball court, and anyone who has played against him can attest to the fact. He is widely considered the most dominant player in the NBA’s history. We have seen quite a bit of footage of Shaq breaking rims and backboards, but twenty-seven is plain ridiculous. Even the announcers were shocked by his response. Here is a video on the social media platform ‘X’ capturing the conversation:

.@SHAQ confirms that he’s broken 27 rims throughout his career pic.twitter.com/MbAt7sXfEd

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 14, 2024

While responding to the commentator’s shock, Shaq said, “Yes! Yes! In the military base in San Antonio, Texas, I was banned from the gym.”  It’s hard not to relate to the TNT broadcasters’ response, as twenty-seven seems like far too many. However, if anyone in the world can do it, it’s none other than Shaquille O’Neal. The player was an unstoppable force of nature, and his game depended on bullying his way to the rim.

Shaquille O’Neal’s ‘Broken Rim Tree’

In 2017, the big man took to Instagram to share a photograph of a piece of art that had basketball rims hanging from their branches. Shaq posed in front of the sculpture and captioned the photo – “These are all the backboards I have broken this is the ‘BROKEN RIM TREE.'” Considering his claim of having broken 27 rims, he might as well make an art to remember those moments. Here is the post by Shaq on Instagram:

 

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A post shared by DR. SHAQUILLE O’NEAL Ed.D. (@shaq)

As much as Shaq would like to claim the sculpture to be his piece of work, the sculpture was made by the artist – ‘Alexandre Arrechea’. The artist’s sculpture is famously known as the ‘Orange Tree’. It is a large-scale sculpture of a metal tree sprouting basketball hoops and surrounded by basketballs. The sculpture was designed to promote awareness of health issues and showcase the exploration of the relationship between sports and urban street culture.

The post “27”: Shaquille O’Neal ‘Reveals’ Tally of Broken Rims During His Basketball Playing Days appeared first on The SportsRush.