Shaquille O’Neal trolls Ben Simmons: “I want to learn how you can make $80 million and play 55 games”

shaq–ben-simmons-

Even in retirement, Shaquille O’Neal remains as entertaining as ever, often calling out modern-day players for their perceived lack of dedication and drive. On the most recent episode of his podcast, when questioned about which player he would pay to see in action, the 4-time NBA Champion amusingly singled out Ben Simmons for all the wrong reasons, expressing curiosity about how he could earn over $100 million in salary despite playing in just 57 out of the possible 190 games in three seasons combined.

“Ben Simmons, cause I would want to learn how you can make $80 million and play 55 games,” O’Neal said. “Teach Me! Teach me how you can play 55 games in three seasons and get $30 million, $40 million, and another $40 million just by saying your back hurt. Man up.”

Ben Simmons gets compared to McDonalds Ice-Cream Machine

Adding to the humor, host Adam Lefkoe chimed in by mentioning memes on the internet likening the 3-time All-Star to a malfunctioning McDonald’s ice-cream machine that is always out of order, highlighting Simmons’ frequent injury woes and extended periods on the sidelines.

Taking the joke further, Shaq agreed with this comparison and quipped that there could be a movie on the horizon called, ‘How to Rob the NBA,’ starring Simmons.

While the LA Lakers’ legend’s remarks may seem like he is throwing blatant shade, they only highlight the mounting frustration with the Australian playmaker. Simmons has regularly made grand promises of unlocking his potential in every offseason, yet he consistently grapples with injury issues when the season commences. Despite this, the 6’10” point guard earns a hefty salary well above $30 million each season.

Shaq shows love to Jokic

It’s safe to say that while Shaq holds a significant amount of disdain in his heart for Ben for seemingly coasting while earning a hefty salary, he harbors an equal amount of respect for Nikola Jokic, as he named him the ‘Vice President’ of his ‘Big Man Alliance.’

That being said, in a more sincere tone, the three-time Finals MVP admitted that he would gladly spend his money to watch ‘The Joker in action.