Shaquille O'Neal stands by LeBron James: "I did it too"

Eight days have passed since LeBron James' dramatic announcement of his move to Philadelphia, but it remains one of the hottest topics in the NBA. Every day, another voice joins the debate surrounding the decision of the all-time leading scorer, and this time it was Shaquille O'Neal who came to his defense in an unequivocal manner.

In an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio, Shaq rejected the claim that James is a "ring chaser," and said he sees nothing wrong with the 41-year-old star trying to put himself in a position to win another championship.

"I don't blame him for wanting to be on a team that will give him a chance to win another championship. People call it 'chasing rings,' but I call it 'continuing rings.' He's just continuing what he's already built." — O'Neal said.

Shaq explained that, in his opinion, many critics do not understand the reality of a veteran player: "It's funny to me that people who don't have championships are the ones calling him a 'ring chaser.' He's not chasing a ring - he's chasing the continuation of his greatness, another chapter in his legacy."

According to him, James knows his career is nearing its end, so there is no reason not to try to maximize the years he has left: "He might not be thinking about it, but we know that when it's all over - it's over. You can't go back. If he feels he has two or three more years at this level, why shouldn't he try to win another championship?"

Shaq also mentioned that he himself made a similar decision late in his career: "I did it too. After I won championships with the Lakers and another one with Miami, I went to play with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in Boston to try to win another one. I was the fourth player, I grabbed rebounds, blocked shots, and did what the team needed. That's exactly what LeBron is doing now."

O'Neal clarified that, for him, James' move makes Philadelphia a real contender for the championship, but emphasized that the pressure will be immense: "For me, this is a championship-or-bust season. I don't want to hear about a 60-win season or making the playoffs. With this roster, they have to win."

At the same time, Shaq also expressed concern for the status of Tyrese Maxey: "He started building a name for himself when Embiid was injured, and now both Jaylen Brown and LeBron are joining. Someone will have to give up the ball and the spotlight. The question is how it will affect him."

Either way, it seems that the debate over the meaning of the move is far from over.