At least Shaquille O’Neal has a sense of humor about being left off Lil Wayne’s Mount Rushmore of LA Lakers.
After witnessing the rapper put him on and take him off his Lakers’ all-time foursome, the icon sobbed false tears on social media.
After listing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and O’Neal, the musician replaced him with LeBron James.
“Kareem, Magic, Kobe, Shaq,” the rapper named his Lakers Mount Rushmore. “Oh, sorry—Kobe, LeBron.”
It may be recency bias, but O’Neal could be in the top four ahead of his fellow NBA star based on his stint with the Lakers. Beginning with the fact that the massive center won three NBA titles in eight seasons with the Lakers while James had only one entering his sixth season.
O’Neal is among the top five Lakers in minutes, points, and rebounds per game. James is in the top two for points and assists per game and eclipsed Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer last season with the Lakers.
Ranking the Lakers’ all-time greats is always challenging. But O’Neal seems to be on those lists’ outside looking in.
TNT analyst responded this summer when owner Jeanie Buss didn’t call him one of her five most important Lakers. He was also upset that Julius Erving left him off his top 10 list of all-time players, along with Bryant and James.
James can add to his Lakers legacy after starting his 21st NBA season on Tuesday. Despite apparently having his workload regulated more than before, the 38-year-old has showed in challenging the coaching staff that he still believes he can contribute significantly on the floor.
If the Lakers win another NBA title, O’Neal may cry happy tears.