Shaq blasts NBA stars for chasing money over love for the game: “I’d play for $40K.”

Shaquille O’Neal, the NBA’s most dominant player, isn’t afraid to speak his mind. He recently shared his thoughts on modern NBA players and their passion for the game of basketball.

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“I love the game, but I don’t think the current players love the game,” Shaq said. “I think they love what they get out of the game. See, I didn’t play for money. I played to have my name with the gods. If you would’ve gave me $40,000 for 10 years, I still would have played.

“So, a lot of these guys want to make $200, $300 million, but they don’t give the fans what they deserve,” Shaq added. “Shoot a 100 threes rather than going to the hole and tearing the rim down. So, I don’t think they love the game. They love what they can get out of the game.”

Shaq isn’t wrong in his statement. The players today do seem to care more about the money, rather than finding success in the league. This could be the reason why the NBA is struggling with viewership.

If the players truly went back to playing for the love of the game, maybe it would bring more fans in. It couldn’t hurt, so for sure.

About the Author Published Apr 14, 2025

TITAN FREY

Titan Frey is a dedicated father to three wonderful children, whom he takes immense pride in. His passions include reading, writing, basketball, both playing and watching, and playing chess. Titan spent five years working as a journalist for the basketball website fadeawayworld.net, where he served as editor-in-chief for four and a half years. One of his most notable achievements was interviewing Chuck Cooper III, the son of Chuck Cooper, the first African American ever drafted by an NBA team, and writing a biography that has been praised as the most definitive article about Cooper’s legacy. Titan is the author of more than ten novels and the screenwriter of three produced short films. His newest young adult novel, Echoes of the Hardwood: Braxton Foxworthy’s Time‑Travelling Book Report, blends basketball history with heartfelt storytelling and is now available. Order here: https://a.co/d/bo7BYz1