Shaquille O’Neal Has Named the Most Underrated NBA Player He Ever Faced

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most intimidating superstars in NBA history and it takes a lot to impress him. During his time analysing the sport for Inside the NBA, he’s famously been tough to please and doesn’t offer out praise to the current generation of basketball players too often.

As a result, when he does say something positive about someone in the NBA past or present, you know it’s a big deal and it means a lot. He’s ranked the best centres of all time and has also named the most underrated basketball star that he ever came up against in the NBA and it’s another centre.

Shaquille O’Neal Named Houston Rockets Legend the Most Underrated Player

During an episode of The Big Podcast in April 2025, as quoted by BOLA VIP, O’Neal revealed he thought Houston Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon was the most underrated player that he ever came up against on the basketball court. With the former retiring in 2002 and the latter debuting in 1992, they spent 10 years in the association together and even faced off in the NBA finals during Shaq’s time with the Orlando Magic.

Speaking about Olajuwon, he said:

O’Neal may feel as though Olajuwon is underrated now, but the Rockets icon is still regarded as one of the best centres in NBA history. It’s a testament to how incredible he was that it’s not considered complete blasphemy that he was selected ahead of the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan, in the 1984 NBA draft.

Olajuwon won two NBA titles with the Rockets during a 17-year stint in Texas and was even named MVP of the league in 1994 for his exploits on the court. He was overshadowed by Jordan’s excellence, but that doesn’t take away from how impressive he was. He’s one of the greatest defenders in NBA history and it’s easy to see why Shaq is such a big fan of his and considers him to be the most underrated player he ever faced off against.