Shaquille O'Neal Claims Nine NBA Titles Possible With Michael Jordan

Michael Cooper reflected on the 1985 NBA Finals, arguing that Magic Johnson, who led the Lakers in scoring and assists, deserved the Finals MVP over Kareem Abdul-Jabbar due to his pivotal leadership and orchestration of the team's offense. Former NBA player Raymond Felton believes that if Michael Jordan had not suffered a meniscus injury late in his career, he could have continued averaging 20-25 points per game even into his 40s, highlighting Jordan's enduring skill and competitiveness. Shaquille O'Neal expressed that had he been teammates with Michael Jordan instead of Kobe Bryant, they could have won nine NBA championships together, surpassing the six titles Jordan won with the Chicago Bulls and O'Neal's four championships. O'Neal's statement underscores the remarkable dominance both players had in their respective eras and the hypothetical impact of their collaboration. Additionally, Michael Jordan once chose his college coach Dean Smith over Phil Jackson as the coach he would want to win a game with, reflecting his deep respect for Smith's influence during his formative years at UNC. These perspectives collectively emphasize the lasting legacies and hypothetical intersections of some of basketball's greatest figures.