Shaquille O'Neal engages Donovan Mitchell in awkward interview after 36-point outing
Leave it to Shaquille O’Neal to bring down a post-game interview.
O’Neal put Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell in an awkward spot on Thursday night after a 129-118 win against the New Orleans Pelicans that extended the Jazz’s winning streak to seven.
Mitchell delivered an impressive stat line of 36 points, seven rebounds and five assists. He was11-for-19 overall and 6-of-8 from behind the 3-point line, becoming the fastest player to 600 made 3-pointers in NBA history.
📹| Spida with a season-high 36 points ⤵️#TakeNote | @spidadmitchellpic.twitter.com/4d3d0oUnb6
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) January 22, 2021
So it was awkward, even rude, when noted hater O’Neal came at Mitchell in the on-air interview with this:
This exchange between Shaq and Spida 👀
(via @nbaontnt) pic.twitter.com/tiNRhn7ofZ— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 22, 2021
“I said tonight that you are one of my favorite players but you don’t have what it takes to get to the next level,” O’Neal said. “I said it on purpose because I wanted you to hear it. What do you have to say about that?”
Maybe O’Neal was trying to start an argument, or stir up drama, or make Mitchell bristle at the remarks. His arguments with Charles Barkley on the show usually make waves on social media and his beef with particular players is a constant thread through his years of analysis.
Mitchell, 24, wasn’t having it and shrugged off the instigation with a shrug in the form of one word.
“Aight. ... That’s it.”
He explained a little further in his post-game video conference with reporters.
Donovan Mitchell on the comments from Shaq and Barklet on @NBAonTNT.
"I hate to take a win like this and make it about what they said about me. Look at how we played, look at how we guarded. I'm happy."— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 22, 2021
And Rudy Gobert went at it, too, with a wordier shrug.
Rudy Gobert on Shaq and Barkley on @NBAonTNT:
"Whatever they want to call us. if we keep winning games, they're gonna have to watch us anyway. So, hopefully they get to watch us until July.
And then they can call us whatever they want."— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) January 22, 2021
Mike Conley was more direct.
Mike Conley, on Shaq's comments about Donovan Mitchell: "I’ve been a big fan of Don’s and seeing the way he’s grown, even before he was here. I don’t know how you can make a statement like that regarding his progress at such a young age. He's gotten better every year."
— Eric Walden (@tribjazz) January 22, 2021
Mitchell is averaging 24.3 points and is shooting at a 40.8 percent clip from 3-point range. It’s the best mark of the fourth-year guard’s career, pushing his effective field goal percentage to a career-high of 52.9 percent. He’s adding on average 3.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists, another career-high, per game.
The Jazz are 11-4 and in second behind the Los Angeles Lakers (12-4) in the Western Conference standings. But sure Shaq, go off.
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