Shaquille O’Neal Apologizes to New York After Jalen Brunson’s Knicks Prove They are Legit Contenders

After Jalen Brunson and his New York Knicks bounced the Cleveland Cavaliers out of the Eastern Conference Finals, many analysts and former players, such as Shaquille O’Neal, and fans sat up and took note.

Most of them have been following the team throughout the season, which is why they never felt the unit was good enough to take on the likes of the Detroit Pistons, the Boston Celtics, the Cleveland Cavaliers, or even the Philadelphia 76ers.

In fact, the latter two were touted as NBA Finalists after their late-season surge. But it so happens that the Knicks are the ones who embarrassed both their conference rivals with two straight sweeps.

They are so good, I owe the whole state and all five boroughs of New York an apology. … It reminds me of that Detroit team that beat us, my last year there… They just got a bunch of guys that are just together.

Shaquille O’Neal said on The Rich Eisen Show

The Diesel brought up to stand-in host and Rich Eisen‘s wife, Suzy Shuster, how a connected Detroit Pistons team stopped him and his Los Angeles Lakers from winning four straight championships.

💻 @SHAQ

The Diesel joined us today and told us he needed to apologize to #AlwaysKnicks after their dominating ECF sweep:#NBA #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Y5odg0WlzR

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) May 26, 2026

Shaquille O’Neal believes that even though Jalen Brunson is the primary superstar, this Knicks team is as connected as that ’04 championship-winning Pistons team.

After earlier dismissing their ability, the Hall of Famer agreed that they have the look of a championship contender. Their chemistry saw them blitz through two opponents, and that will be their strength in the Finals.

Shaquille O’Neal gives Jalen Brunson his flowers

While praising the New York Knicks for their togetherness, Shaquille O’Neal then went on to praise Jalen Brunson for playing like a true leader.

A true definition of a player is one who makes the players around him better. Game 1, when he mounted the comeback, where he went crazy, Cleveland adjusted, ‘Oh, we’re going to double him,’ and he kicked it to his guy, Josh Hart.

Shaquille O’Neal said

The former league MVP pointed out how the 29-year-old can dominate, as he did in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Then, for the same player to understand the defensive shifts and use that opportunity to help his teammates was proof that he can lead them to a title. O’Neal pointed out that on every championship-winning team, there is a leader. Even though the 04 Detroit Pistons were a collective bunch, Chauncey Billups was their leader.

In the Knicks’ case, despite having players on massive contracts, it is the man who took the pay cut that is leading them to the promised land. The Lakers’ legend believes this will make them dangerous in the NBA Finals.

Shaquille O’Neal believes Knicks can beat West’s best

After giving Jalen Brunson and his Knicks their praise, Shaquille O’Neal went on to talk about the team’s chances in the NBA Finals.

I was getting ready to say that I don’t know if they can beat either team in the West. But now, I don’t know if I can say that. They are playing excellent basketball.

Shaquille O’Neal said

The 54-year-old was initially unsure whether the Big Apple-based team had it in them to defeat either the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs.

He knows the ‘perfect big man‘ Victor Wembanyama and the reigning two-time league MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are on that side of the line. But even then, he is not sure that they have enough to battle with a team as connected as the Knicks.

Moreover, O’Neal believes that the rest of Jalen Brunson and his teammates will enjoy will give them an edge when the Finals start on June 3rd.

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