When Shaquille O’Neal talks, the basketball world listens.
Especially when the topic is greatness.
During a recent segment with Overtime, O'Neal was handed a simple challenge: eat the Shaq-A-Licious Slam candy if he saw a player better than Stephen Curry in his prime.
One by one, legends flashed across the screen – Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, even O'Neal himself.
The candy stayed untouched. O’Neal simply capped off the video with an emphatic statement: “Steph is the GOAT.”
It's not the first time the Hall of Famer has expressed that level of admiration. Speaking previously on Angel Reese's podcast, O'Neal explained why Curry resonates with him on a different level:
"You know why I love Steph Curry? Because I've never seen that before. I’ve seen it a little bit… If you saw Steph on the street, he ain't got the LeBron muscles, he's not 6'9″, 6'10". He looks like a perfectly normal office guy. He's doing stuff that people never seen before."
That framing matters. O'Neal isn't arguing résumé alone, he's arguing impact and uniqueness. Curry's accomplishments are undeniable: four NBA championships, one Finals MVP, two regular-season MVPs, and two scoring titles. He's widely regarded as the greatest shooter in league history and the central figure in the Warriors' dynasty.
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Even at 37, Curry remains elite, averaging 27.2 points per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three in 39 contests this season. But the GOAT debate doesn't live in a vacuum.
Michael Jordan owns six championships, six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, a Defensive Player of the Year award, and ten scoring titles. LeBron James brings four championships, four Finals MVPs, and four MVPs to the table, along with unmatched longevity. Even O'Neal himself has previously called Jordan the GOAT and left Curry off a 2025 top-10 list, making this latest declaration a notable pivot.
Still, one thing has remained consistent: O'Neal's respect. Whether Curry ultimately climbs into the unanimous GOAT tier may depend on whether he adds another title or two. For now, the debate rages and Shaq has made his stance crystal clear – at least for now.
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