Shaquille O’Neal, the NBA legend, clarified remarks he made about luck in the New York Knicks winning the championship last season. When an interviewer mentioned hearing Shaq say the Knicks ‘got lucky,’ the Hall of Famer was quick to correct him. ‘That’s not what I said. I hate people like you who don’t listen. I said, ‘Luck was involved.’ What if [OG Anunoby] don’t get the tip? What if [DeAaron Fox] held the ball back? That’s luck. What if Jaylen Brown and [Jayson Tatum] played the postseason? Everybody needs luck to win the championship. I started off by saying two of my championships were lucky,’ Shaq explained.
The former NBA superstar expressed that Knicks fans should aim to impress him by repeating their success next season. O’Neal’s own career includes four NBA championships. He won three consecutive titles alongside the late Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000, 2001, and 2002. During that 2000 championship run, the Lakers faced Reggie Miller and the Indiana Pacers. After taking a 2-1 series lead, Game 4 went into overtime in Indiana where Shaq had fouled out. Bryant made clutch free throws, and Miller missed a critical three-pointer that could have tied the series. The Pacers won Game 5 but eventually lost the series 4-2.
Shaq’s fourth championship came with the Miami Heat in 2006, where he played with Dwyane Wade. Their NBA Finals opponents were Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas initially led the series 2-0, but Miami made a comeback. Game 3 was narrowly won by the Heat 98-96 after Nowitzki missed a late free throw. Miami then won Game 4 and a contentious Game 5 that went into overtime, where some believed Wade committed a backcourt violation. Ultimately, Miami secured the series 4-2, giving O’Neal his fourth championship, demonstrating the thin line between victory and chance.
The Knicks’ championship run featured moments of fortune, such as the plays involving Anunoby and Fox against the San Antonio Spurs. While luck played a role, Knicks players showed grit and determination, turning challenging situations into victories. For Anunoby’s tip-in play, it was not just luck but also positioning and timing. The Spurs might have improved their box-out strategy. As for Fox’s play, while a mistake occurred, the Knicks’ defense forced an error, showcasing skill over mere luck.
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