Shaquille O'Neal Puts Pressure on Lakers With Strong Message: 'I'll Be Very Disappointed...'

Shaquille O'Neal Puts Pressure on Lakers With Strong Message: 'I'll Be Very Disappointed...' originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has spoken up about the Los Angeles Lakers and he didn’t hold back.

In an exclusive interview with Casino Beats, O’Neal said the Lakers should be one of the top teams in the West this season. With new stars like Luka Doncic and Deandre Ayton joining LeBron James, O’Neal believes there are no more excuses.

“You got two premier players. You got a big guy that can do certain things,” O’Neal said. “Those three players should be able to get you to one through four. If they don’t have home court advantage, I’ll be very disappointed.”

The Lakers made big moves by trading for Doncic, signing Ayton and picking up veteran guard Marcus Smart. These changes were meant to help James and the team go deeper in the playoffs.

Last season, the Lakers were average in three-point shooting. They finished 15th in total three-pointers made and 14th in percentage. That lack of shooting hurt them badly in the playoffs, especially during their early loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Even though the team added big names, O’Neal warned that without real shooters, they may fall short again.

“They’ve got the size and the stars,” he said. “But the way the game is played now, you need shooting to win.”

O’Neal knows what it takes to win. He helped the Lakers win three titles in a row during his time with the team. That’s why his message now is so strong.

With James at age 40 and Doncic entering his prime, the Lakers don’t have time to waste. O’Neal wants to see results this season — and so do the fans.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.