Shaquille O'Neal Quotes

With my size and length I can affect the game in a lot of ways.

I pride myself on defending and rebounding.

I pride myself on playing just about every position on the court.

I was a hockey player growing up. Being a big guy and being imposing, I had to use my size to protect my teammates.

I am the finest defensive player in the game.

I have a very good ground game and very good wrestling. People just underestimate it. That's it. I want to keep it like that.

I'm getting drafted because I can guard multiple positions. Anything that comes other than that, there's no pressure there.

In college I played power forward because I was one of the biggest guys on the team and my versatility allowed me to do that.

I think I can play both deep field and inside the box.

I think my one-on-one defense is pretty good.

Strength is never a negative. The stronger you are, the more you're able to defend. The more physical you are, the better you are. The top teams in the NBA are the most physical teams, too.

Basketball is not like football: It's not a car accident happening every play. Over the nine months, you can rest in practice and take off some minutes in games.

That's one part of my game that never leaves - the defensive part.

They say that pace is the first thing to go, but my game was never based on pace. It was about strength and power and withstanding challenges and getting in the right position.

What's cool about wrestling is that you do find yourself working with very talented and very versatile opponents.

Basketball is more than just strength and power.

When you talk about such a tremendous player like LeBron, just trying to stop him one-on-one, you can't do it.

I grew up playing in lots of physical battles against lots of players. It's something I enjoy. I'm a big lad myself, so I feel I can handle myself in a battle.

I've been a versatile player since I started playing football.

If my opponent wants to think of me as a dunker, it's just gonna shock them more when I show them another part of my game.

That's the nature of basketball. You gotta go out there and compete.

My best position is in the middle, and if I am asked to play there, I can do it.

It doesn't matter who's under the basket, I'm going to try to slam or block the shot.

NBA teams like to see guys who can help a team win a game in a lot of fashions.

It's a headache, chasing a guy around. I'd rather play against a quarterback that sits still.