“I think I’m the only player who looks at each and every center and says to myself, ‘That’s barbecued chicken down there.’” Shaquille O’Neal has never second-guessed his superiority as a center over others who came after him.
His stats, awards, and accolades are enough to back his chain of thought. But then there is Nikola Jokic, who has sort of redefined the role of a center in the NBA. Blessed with the boon of sinking it anywhere from on the court, Jokic does not rely on his physical dominance or athleticism much. Just a pure set of skills is what The Joker is. Amid such circumstances, one may wonder who would come on top?
That exact debate unfolded on NBA on TNT. And in true Shaquille O’Neal fashion, he didn’t hesitate to let everyone know how things would go. When asked how a battle between 2001 Big Diesel and 2025 Jokic would play out, he wasted no time in making a bold claim.
“Slavian chicken, or wherever he’s from… Slovenian chicken… I’m getting 40, and they’re gonna have to double me,” Shaq declared, sticking to his signature confidence. But this wasn’t just trash talk—he actually laid out his plan for handling Jokić on the court.
Big Diesel acknowledged that Jokic would have his moments, likely using the pick-and-pop to pull him away from the basket. But in Shaq’s mind, that wouldn’t be enough to change the outcome. “… After he shoot the three , I’m running right to the middle lane and a whole arena going to yell three seconds and we’ll see. And I’m going to hit way more twos than you hit threes, I guarantee you that.”
Classic Shaq—always confident that his dominance inside the paint would overpower any outside shooting. Then, in a way only Shaquille O’Neal can, he took things to another level.
“And I’m gonna make his brothers fight me because the first play of the game—elbow…” That last part got an immediate reaction from his fellow TNT analysts, especially Candace Parker, who was quick to warn the former Los Angeles Lakers star that he wouldn’t want to mess with Jokic’s brothers.
2001 Shaq vs 2025 Jokić
Big Fella thinks it’s Serbian BBQ chicken pic.twitter.com/OJAVA45JI8
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 1, 2025
For those unaware, Nikola has two older brothers, Strahinja and Nemanja, and let’s just say they aren’t the type you’d want to challenge to a fight. Both have basketball backgrounds, and they’ve been known to be fiercely protective of their younger brother. And don’t be fooled by The Joker’s goofy antics, the Jokic brothers can be quite aggressive:
Nikola Jokic’s brother, Strahinja, once punched a man in the arena
Strahinja Jokic has made headlines for more than just supporting his younger sibling from the stands. The 41-year-old landed in legal trouble after an incident at a basketball arena, leading to a charge of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. He first appeared in Denver County Court last year, facing questions about his actions.
It all started during Jokic’s game against the Lakers in April last year when Strahinja was caught on camera throwing a punch. Officials later stated that the blow left the alleged victim with a concussion. Strahinja, however, had a different take—he claimed he was only stepping in to defend an elderly person.
No wonder that by January this year, Strahinja was ready to fight back. TMZ Sports confirmed that he entered a not guilty plea in court, and the trial has been set for April 24.
While there is no telling the outcome of the trial, the incident clearly highlights the fact that Strahinja is not someone who’d hold back from throwing hands. Now, Shaquille O’Neal taking on two more like him all at once just seems a suicide mission. As warned by his TNT colleguae Candace Parker.
The post Shaquille O’Neal Wants Nikola Jokic’s Brothers To Fight Him As TNT Colleagues Refute Wild Claim appeared first on EssentiallySports.
