As the 2021-22 NBA season comes to a close for the Memphis Grizzlies, players and experts are beginning to discuss the subject of which players should be named All-NBA.
The subject was broached recently by a panel of former players that dominated the league during the early aughts: Shaquille O’Neal, Dwayne Wade, and Jamal Crawford.
The panel, led by Adam Lefkoe, discussed which five players each believes are most deserving to be named All-NBA First Team.
Leave it to Shaq to be the lone voice of reason on the panel that seemed to have a consensus on four of the five players.
Shaq’s First Team All-NBA ballot includes Memphis Grizzlies star
The panel all seemed to agree that Embiid, Giannis, Durant, and Booker should be shoo-ins. Crawford and Wade pushed hard for Luka Doncic to be the fifth and final player on their list.
But, not so fast, Shaq said. He was the only one to stick up and stump for Ja Morant. Here were his picks:
- Ja Morant
- Devin Booker
- Kevin Durant
- Giannis Anteokoumnpo
- Joel Embiid
“I want Ja,” Shaq said. “No Luka— he’s second team.” The panel quickly went back and forth about why Ja shouldn’t be named All-NBA First Team.
Shaq, giving Wade a second chance to rethink his choice said, “You’re going Luka over Ja?”
It’s “not talent,” Wade said confidently. “Ja missed 23 games. His team is 20-3 . If you take Luka off the Mavs, it’s a different story.”
What Dwayne Wade is failing to realize is that Kevin Durant has missed 28 games this season. So, by that logic, he should not be considered for any post-season honors.
Going by the NBA’s official standards, Durant has not played in enough games to even qualify to remain atop any official stat leaderboards because he hasn’t played in at least 70% of his team’s games.
Shaq reminded the panel that the Memphis Grizzlies are in second place in the West and have the second-best record in the entire league.
When asked why he was stumping for Ja Morant, Shaq said his play and approach to the game is unparalleled.
“I like the way he plays because I’ve seen it before,” Shaq said. “I’ve seen a young guy and once you put that battery in the back, he takes over. I know what I’m looking at,” the Big Aristotle said, perhaps recalling the late, great Kobe Bryant.
Ja Morant must have seen the exchange because he sent out a tweet to Shaq with two handshake emojis.
You can see the full exchange between Shaquille O’Neal, Jamal Crawford and Dwayne Wade in the clip below.