Shaquille O’Neal Would’ve Laid Hands On Karl-Anthony Towns Over Knicks Star’s Shot Selection

NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal was highly skeptical about Karl-Anthony Towns' on-court decision making during Game 3 against the Pacers.

Shaquille O’Neal Would’ve Laid Hands On Karl-Anthony Towns Over Knicks Star’s Shot Selection

Karl-Anthony Towns and Shaquille O'Neal (Image by FirstSportz)

Karl-Anthony Towns and his New York Knicks made headlines on Sunday after a monumental performance against the Indiana Pacers away from home. However, that was not the only hot topic from the game. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal also turned a few heads towards him after his recent assessment of KAT during half-time of Game 3.

Naturally, O’Neal, one of the most dominant low-block centers in basketball history, would rather watch other players in the NBA compete in the paint. The normally harsh Inside the NBA voice made sure to let KAT know about his decision to make some dubious three-pointers during Sunday’s Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers.

O’Neal reached his boiling point when he witnessed KAT make a 32-yard 3-pointer, and miss, with the Knicks trailing the Pacers during the game. O’Neal made his thoughts known during the halftime show.

This shot right here. Look at this…We’d be fighting in the locker room right now. We’re down 0-2, and we’re taking 35-footers? Take a couple of dribbles. Back the little man down, shoot your jump hook.

Shaquille O’Neal said

Towns is undoubtedly one of the greatest three-point shooters in the recent history of the game, as seen by his 42 percent three-point shooting percentage during the regular season. Therefore, letting Towns shoot threes generally isn’t as horrible a plan as O’Neal believes.

However, for anyone who isn’t Steph Curry, shooting threes a foot from the logo with almost the entire shot clock left is objectively a fairly awful decision. Nevertheless, KAT had a good ending and a big say in the game, especially in the 4th quarter.

He dropped a whooping 20 points out of his overall 24 points in the 4th to lead the Knicks to the important win alongside his captain, Jalen Brunson. The latter also scored 23 points to ensure his side has some hope going into Game 4 in a few days.

Shaquille O’Neal has previously been critical of Karl-Anthony Towns in the playoffs

It’s important to note that, in the past, too, Shaquille O’Neal has not let Karl-Anthony Towns slide easily in the playoffs. Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Dallas Mavericks took place in Texas last year. Despite a close game, the Mavs prevailed 116-107 to take a 3-0 series lead.

Kat was dreadfully bad; in 38 minutes of play, he finished the game with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists, shooting 5/18 from the field and 0/8 from three-point range. This called for a bashing from Shaq, and he provided one after the game.

Karl-Anthony Towns has not stepped up. 0/8 from three is unacceptable. After you shoot two threes and it don’t go down take your big a** in the lane and do what Chuck has been talking about.

Shaquille O’Neal said

Last season, Towns, the former Timberwolves’ second-best player, concluded the regular season shooting 50.4% from the field and 41.6% from three-point range in 62 games, averaging 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. It’s safe to say he has not dropped the level of consistency even with the Knicks this season, proving to be a great asset to the team.

Pascal Siakam gave his honest verdict on Karl-Anthony Towns’ big 4th quarter

Despite starting the game poorly, Karl-Anthony Towns had the last say in the game that mattered the most to the Knicks in this conference Finals. KAT dropped 20 points alone in the 4th quarter to overcome the Pacers. Overall, he dropped 24 points and a whopping 15 rebounds. He was 6-of-9 from the field overall and nailed 3-of-4 three-pointers.

This performance did not go unnoticed by his fans and his opponents. One of them is Pacers star Pascal Siakam. He made his thoughts clear about KAT’s ‘big’ 4th quarter.

He made some big plays at the end for them.

Pascal Siakam told the reporters

Aside from this, the Knicks’ HC, Tom Thibodeau, has a reputation for pushing his players past their breaking point. In certain situations, it may prove beneficial, but in other instances, it has also resulted in significant losses for participants.

Thibodeau’s aggressive tactics have caused serious injuries to a number of players, including Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose. Thibodeau might be worried about his job if the Knicks lose this series.

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