Shaquille O’Neal recently stirred up discussions among NBA Draft conspiracy theorists, particularly regarding the 1992 draft involving David Stern.
O’Neal first made headlines in 1992.
Last month, the notion of a “rigged” NBA Draft lottery gained traction when the Mavericks—a team with only a 1.8% chance—secured the top pick, likely to be Duke Star, Cooper Flag.
The most notorious conspiracy theory is linked to the “frozen envelopes” regarding the Knicks in 1985.
In an interview with Ashley Nevel on Monday, O’Neal added fuel to the fire. He mentioned a conversation with Stern in March, where he was asked about his preference for a rookie city based on climate.
“He pulled me aside and asked, ‘Do you want to play in a place that’s cold or hot?’ I said ‘hot’ and he smiled,” O’Neal recalled.
Later, O’Neal watched as the top picks were announced.
“Minnesota was third, Charlotte was second, and Orlando was first,” he said, expressing some disbelief. “I didn’t think too much of it at the time, although I’ve heard many conspiracy theories. There are various situations that could seem more interesting.”
Though he was hesitant to label it a “conspiracy theory,” he described the whole scenario as “very interesting.”
The LSU standout spent four seasons with the Magic, later winning three titles with the Lakers and one with the Heat after leading Orlando to its first NBA Finals in 1995.
As the Mavericks navigate some criticism regarding Luka Doncic, GM Nico Harrison is looking to pair Flag with Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, who was brought over from the Lakers.
