Shaq's Message to Robin Lopez: 'Put Somebody on Their (Expletive) Back'

In the latter stages of the Suns' 129-109 loss at Portland on Thursday, Shaquille O'Neal had finally seen enough of the easy baskets and laughter from the Blazers.

It was time to do something. And he did, first calling out and then chewing out rookie Robin Lopez, who apparently wasn't putting up enough defensive resistance with the game out of hand.

It took a little while, but O'Neal was finally asked about the incident on Sunday, and sure enough he didn't disappoint. So, what was Shaq trying to tell Lopez late in that game?

Put it this way, commissioner David Stern is not going to be happy about it.

"Put somebody on their (expletive) back," O'Neal said. "Don't let nobody oopsey-doopsey layup on you, then be laughing at you. You ever see me get dunked on? No. Because I put (expletives) on their back. Period.

"That's what I told him. If he's going to be a big man, be a big man. Don't be out there (expletive) around. Lay somebody on their (expletive) back. Wilt (Chamberlain) told me that. Bill Russell told me that. Hakeem (Olajuwon) told me that. All the great big men told me that.

"You lay someone on their (expletive) back. That's what I told him. I don't give a (expletive) who likes it. As a big man, that's what you've got to do. Can't let people do oopsey-doopsey layups on you, laugh at you.

"Do something. Either block it or lay them on their back. Period. That's what you've got to do as a big man. Don't flop. Lay them on their (expletive) back. That's what I was taught and that's what I'm trying to teach him, instead of being out there like a (expletive) loose tree, blowing in the wind."

Latest Shaq Photos

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 29: Shaquille O'Neal #32 of the Phoenix Suns dunks the ball against the Sacramento Kings on March 29, 2009 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal

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SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 29: Shaquille O'Neal #32 of the Phoenix Suns dunbks the ball against Spencer Hawes #31 of the Sacramento Kings on March 29, 2009 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal;Spencer Hawes

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SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 29: Shaquille O'Neal #32 of the Phoenix Suns tries to put the ball in the basket against the Sacramento Kings on March 29, 2009 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal

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SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 29: Shaquille O'Neal #32 of the Phoenix Suns grabs the rebound against the Sacramento Kings on March 29, 2009 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal

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SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 29: Kevin Martin #23 of the Sacramento Kings passes the ball around Shaquille O'Neal #32 of the Phoenix Suns on March 29, 2009 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kevin Martin;Shaquille O'Neal

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SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 29: Shaquille O'Neal #32 of the Phoenix Suns dunks the ball against Jason Thompson #34 of the Sacramento Kings on March 29, 2009 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal;Jason Thompson

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SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 29: Shaquille O'Neal #32 of the Phoenix Suns dunks the ball against Francisco Garcia #32 of the Sacramento Kings on March 29, 2009 at ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shaquille O'Neal;Francisco Garcia

NBAE/Getty Images

Sacramento Kings' Francisco Garcia, right, steals a pass away from Phoenix Suns' Shaquille O'Neal, left, during second quarter action of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, March 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Thearon W. Henderson)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

3-30-2009 @ 4:45PM

lbeptx said...

i heart shaq! lol

3-30-2009 @ 5:22PM

peyton said...

Shaq always tells it like it is either he can step up and be a champion or he can stand their like tree or better now as a "Rik Smits" or "not a champion"

3-30-2009 @ 5:24PM

hardheadk2 said...

GROW SOME NUTS LOPEZ

3-30-2009 @ 5:34PM

lennys1214 said...

shaq should hang it up already,he looks like father time out there

3-30-2009 @ 9:50PM

Megan said...

ROTFL

3-30-2009 @ 5:41PM

crbooker said...

He's never been dunked on? I beg to differ.....

3-30-2009 @ 6:02PM

GL said...

shaq's right about putting someone on their back.

wrong about never getting dunked on.

3-30-2009 @ 7:27PM

strapman said...

shaq sure can talk alot. can't score many points anymore though. he's 7'1" tall and 300lbs.and doesn't score 20 pts per game over the last 6 years. sounds kind of average.

3-30-2009 @ 7:53PM

krmagley said...

but... but... he was just going for the block. he was making a play on the ball. he wasn't purposefully smashing a player half his size out of the air. right marc jackson? right shaq fans? right huggers of celebrity nuts? oh sorry, already mentioned marc jackson.

shaq has been putting hits on players the ilk of rodney stuckey and amir johnson for years. it warms my heart when someone like jason maxiell or ben wallace puts him on the ground.

3-30-2009 @ 8:06PM

mrclick456 said...

You have got to love Shaq. I know I USED too!

3-30-2009 @ 9:10PM

Shannon said...

The way I see it, the whole team got their ass handed to them, and it is easy to pick out a rookie to blow off steam on, the whole team played lousy. The Suns been playing inconsistent ball all year, so don't let that one game be the reason why you may not make the playoffs.

3-30-2009 @ 11:24PM

esharpking said...

yeah but this wasn't about them either making it or not making it to the playoffs. Why don't you stick with the topic.

3-30-2009 @ 9:24PM

lakergregg said...

Shaq has always liked talking about playing "D" more than actually playing "D".
He might be the most dominant center of "HIS" time,but ever?

3-30-2009 @ 9:42PM

BIG KELL said...

Most of these players now would get their butts kicked if they played in the 60's and 70's.

tbaccessnow said...

Shaq`s a big 7'1" dumbass!

3-31-2009 @ 1:49AM

annette said...

R U any better??? I think he's on of the greatest and he's is totally HOT!!!!!!!!!!

3-30-2009 @ 9:47PM

kate archer said...

HEY I SAW SHACK PLAY ON MONDAY AND HE WAS PLAYING LIKE A WASHED UP DINOSAUR - HE HARDLY MOVED
AND ONLY GOT BALL IN HOOP WHEN HE WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE HOOP LOLLLLLL HE IS FINISHED - WHO THE HELL IS HE TO CRITICIZE ANYBODY?

3-30-2009 @ 10:00PM

joey said...

thats why hes having a career year at the ft line at 64 percent and leads the league in fg percentage at 61 percent

3-30-2009 @ 10:20PM

yamobthere07 said...

Shaq cant spell defense , nevermind play it. His talent is throwing his 350 lbs around , within 5 feet of the hoop. Sure he shoots 61% from the floor , all dunks!!