Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal reality check to Chet Holmgren and other NBA rookies

This year, the battle for the Rookie of the Year award has been really competitive and many of the 2023 NBA Draft Class have been overhyped. Chet Holmgren is having an impressive rookie season for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal is pushing back against the idea that the young player has earned the right to be called “phenomenal."

Recently Shaq gave a reality check to Chet Holmgrem and other rookie players, including Victor Wembanyama and Jaime Jaquez Jr. Players that have been great so far but still have to show the same consistency and dominance during years and not just 30 games.

“Y’all throwin’ around words that we had to work hard for,” O’Neal said at the 38:30 mark. “Phenomenal’s not the right word. … He’s good, but don’t be going promising and great and future Hall of Famer."

“Startin’ today, I’m puttin’ an end to all that s—. I am, startin’ today. Y’all can’t just be giving these people things who ain’t put in no work.
“… Phenomenal is the wrong word. And you can’t use dominant unless he does it for a consistent amount of time. I’m not talkin’ two or three games. I’m talkin’ years.”

Holmgren vs. Shaquille O'Neal rookie year

Holmgren is averaging 17.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game to begin his rookie campaign. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft sat out all of last season with a foot injury. By way of comparison to Holmgren, when O’Neal was a rookie in the 1992-93 NBA season with the Orlando Magic, he averaged 23.4 points, 13.9 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game in 81 appearances. He eventually helped the Magic reach the 1995 NBA Finals in his third season after he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft.