Shaquille O’Neal, one of the most dominant players in NBA history, rarely finds himself in the top spots of all-time rankings, especially on general lists. But when veteran sports analyst Skip Bayless released a Top-10 NBA players list placing Shaq third, right behind Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, the Hall of Famer couldn’t resist sharing it with his followers.

Shaq, often heralded as one of the best centers ever, usually competes with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, and Wilt Chamberlain for dominance at his position.

However, broader all-time lists often relegate him to the lower half of the Top-10, behind names like Jordan, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Kobe Bryant.

Bayless’ surprising Top-10 list

During a recent episode of DraftKings’ All The Smoke podcast, Bayless shook up conventional rankings. His Top-3 featured Jordan, Johnson, and Shaq, ahead of Abdul-Jabbar and Tim Duncan, who rounded out the Top-5. Russell, Bryant, Bird, and Chamberlain followed, with James shockingly placed ninth.

Shaq proudly shared the clip on his Instagram Stories, beaming with pride to be in such esteemed company. Although he didn’t add commentary to the post, it’s clear he was delighted by the recognition.

Historically, O’Neal has often ranked himself behind Abdul-Jabbar, Russell, and Chamberlain when assessing centers, making Bayless’ ranking particularly noteworthy.

Bayless and his LeBron critique

The placement of LeBron at ninth raised eyebrows but didn’t surprise those familiar with Bayless’ long-standing critiques of the Lakers superstar. The 72-year-old analyst has consistently lauded O’Neal’s dominance while openly questioning LeBron’s perceived shortcomings in high-pressure moments.

While Bayless’ unorthodox ranking may be controversial, it has given Shaq an unexpected moment in the spotlight. And for the “Big Aristotle,” being placed alongside Jordan and Magic is no small feat-especially in a list that bucks the usual LeBron-centric trends.