Shaquille O’Neal is picking the Golden State Warriors to win the 2019 NBA Championship, even after his up-close look as Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors beat the Milwaukee Bucks four straight games to advance to the Finals for the first time in franchise history. Shaq says Golden State has the championship pedigree and experience and “they’re playing very well right now.”
But Shaq’s take went further than assessing pure basketball talent. Shaq reads the NBA emotionally as well as any TV analyst working today, and he revealed his insight into the character of the dynastic Warriors franchise and their key players.
“They play better when people doubt them, when people disrespect them,” Shaq said. “For example Klay [Thompson] not making the All-NBA team, he’s gonna be ready to play. Draymond’s going to be ready. My favorite player Steph Curry‘s gonna be ready to play.”
The disrespect shown Thompson could fuel an eruption by the neglected “Splash Brother” in the NBA Finals, Shaq signaled, calling Thompson’s name first — before even addressing Green and Curry as keys to the series. (Note: Curry was named to the All-NBA first team.)
Despite being the Warriors’ best one-on-one defender and a key scorer on three of the last four NBA Championship teams, Klay Thompson was again left off all three All-NBA teams this year. Thompson was named to the All-NBA third team twice, in 2015 and 2016.
