Shaq says the NBA should cancel this season without an asterisk champ

[Ron Mexico]

Los Angeles (AFP) - Retired four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal says the league would be smart to call off the halted 2019-20 campaign and avoid crowning a champion that would carry an "asterisk."

O'Neal, in an interview with USA Today, said players should start to prepare for a 2020-21 season and set aside a campaign halted in March by the coronavirus pandemic with five weeks of regular-season games and two months of playoffs remaining.

"I think we should scrap the season. Everybody go home, get healthy, come back next year. Just scrap the season. Just scrap it," O'Neal told the newspaper.

"To try and come back now and do a rush playoffs as a player? Any team that wins this year, there's an asterisk. They're not going to get the respect.

"What if a team that's not really in the mix of things all of a sudden wins with a new playoff format? Nobody is going to respect that. So, scrap it. Worry about the safety of the fans and the people. Come back next year."


O'Neal, 48, retired in 2011 after a 19-season NBA career and has been working as a television analyst.

The league has been working on plans to gather teams in a single city, test and house players in a secured area and stage games without fans in a controled area, with Las Vegas and Orlando most often mentioned as possible sites for the "bubble" plan.

"I understand how players are feeling. I really do," O'Neal told the newspaper. "But any team that gets it done this year, there's going to be an asterisk on that championship."

O'Neal doesn't want to see any resumption unless all involved -- players, coaches, referees and the broadcast personnel -- are safe from the deadly virus.

"However long it takes for us to get 100% back to normal, I'm willing to wait," O'Neal said.

"All it takes is one person. After the game, you've still got to go home. What if one person gets sick? Then we start from zero again."

 

[YoungMoneyCashMoneyBoy]

"Any team that wins this year, there's an asterisk. They're not going to get the respect."

Bron and his Stans:

 

[O.iatlhawksfan]

I agree just cancel the seasons and refresh for next year

 

[Rell Lauren]

Full of shyt by calling them an asterisk champ. We don't call the 98-99 Spurs asterisk champs. The year was suspended meaning at some point, things were going to resume.

 

[Long Live The Kane]

I’d only give the title an asterisk if the rockets won

 

[Apprentice]

Only in the NBA will you hear a nikka say some shyt like this

 

[GilSho]

I’d only give the title an asterisk if the rockets won

 

[Drew Wonder]

Full of shyt by calling them an asterisk champ. We don't call the 98-99 Spurs asterisk champs. The year was suspended meaning at some point, things were going to resume.

Phil did, that’s probably where Shaq got it from

BIG ZEN ANNOYS SPURS WITH COMMENT

Spurs Will Tell Him What to Do With the Asterisk

The Lakers close out the regular season Wednesday night against the Spurs in San Antonio in what is ostensibly a meaningless game before the playoffs--or is it?

Before the Lakers--playing without Shaquille O’Neal--lost to the Spurs on April 8, Coach Phil Jackson said, "[The Spurs] needed an asterisk next to their title” last year because of the lockout-shortened season.

 

[MikelArteta]

start the playoffs
8th-10th seed have a little tourney with the 8th seed getting a bye and 9/10 play then a one off

first round best of 3
semis and conference best of 5
finals best of 7

 

[YoungMoneyCashMoneyBoy]

This is coming from a former Laker, so you know canceling the season hurts him as the Lakers are the favorites.

Ultimately, he doesn't want the stench of a cheap ring sullying the Laker family.

 

[Ron Mexico]

Barkley saying it should be canceled too.

 

[Ironman]

The "new season" isn't that far and the way states are happening the 2nd wave will be coming soonThe next season may not happen soon as they think either

 

[Saysumthinfunnymike]

I agree about the asterisk unless it's a team I want to win then it counts..

 

[Drizzy Dre]

Dumb logic. Did the Spurs have an asterisk when they played the short season with the lockout?

 

[Fortunate Lee]

“Come back next year”



these clowns still have no idea how serious this virus is, they think it’s gonna magically disappear next season

it could take years to come up with a vaccine or build immunity

Just finish this shyt, yeah having an empty arena is gonna suck, but I doubt Orlando or Memphis wil win a championship