Shaquille O'Neal recalls shameful moment in Greece, meeting with 'Baby Shaq' / News - Basketnews.com

Shaquille O'Neal spoke highly about Giannis Antetokounmpo: "He doesn't take days off, he's not an arrogant player, he takes fouls without complaining, and works for the better."

Credit: USA Today Sports-Scanpix, Fotodiena/R.Dačkus Credit USA Today Sports-Scanpix, Fotodiena/R.Dačkus

If Shaquille O'Neal is one of the most dominant forces under the baskets in NBA history, then his equivalent on the European front is Sofoklis Schortsanitis.

Schortsanitis, also known as "Baby Shaq" or "Big Sofo", is a EuroLeague champion in 2014 and a former Olympiacos, Maccabi, Panathinaikos, and Crvena Zvezda center.

Both "Shaqs" had an opportunity to meet each other in the U.S., O'Neal revealed in an interview with Cosmote TV.

"Yeah, I ran into him when I was playing in Cleveland [2009-10]," Shaquille O'Neal said about his meeting with Schortsanitis.

Sofoklis, a Greek international, has never played in the NBA, though.

"He could [have played]. Everything depends on opportunity and acquaintances. I think he wanted to play in Greece," O'Neal said.

Shaquille, 50, had another Greece-related moment, this time in Athens.

After a 1994 trip to Greece, a reporter asked Shaq if he'd visited the Parthenon, the ancient Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Athena.

"I can't really remember the names of the clubs that we went to," he replied at that time.

"I remember I got mad when they asked me about the Parthenon, and I replied that I haven't been to that club," O'Neal remembered the moment. "I wasn't well-read, and there was even an extensive article that said I don't know Greek history. I know it now. I can't wait to go back to Greece."

NBA legend also touched on Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Shaq is known for his admiration of Greek Freak.

"What sets Giannis apart is that he plays hard all the time and in the right way. You have to respect that more than anything when you're a sports fan. He doesn't take days off, he's not an arrogant player, he takes fouls without complaining, and works for the better," Hall of Famer praised the two-time MVP.

Does O'Neal think Antetokounmpo would have had the same effect in his playing days?

"He would have an effect, but the game was different," Shaq pointed out. "In my time, they didn't like to see us players that are over 2.10 meters take the ball and move around the court with it. So, most likely, he would have taken a position in the post as a true big man.

"He would do well because he is strong and runs fast. When I was playing with players like him, I would tell them, 'If the ball bounces high and you don't get a rebound, run.' I was telling them to run because I was giving them the pass, and they could move with a ball or hold the attack and play a set play."

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