O’Neal, Smith Advise Giannis Amid Trade Rumors

Shaquille O’Neal has advised Giannis Antetokounmpo to resist the pressure of moving to a bigger NBA market amid ongoing trade rumors, arguing that social media has made market size less critical for superstar branding. Drawing from his own career, O’Neal cited the success of Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic in smaller markets and advised Giannis to focus on recruiting talent to Milwaukee. Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith agreed that transcendent players like Giannis can succeed anywhere, though he noted that city size remains important for some. O’Neal also continues to mentor young athletes, recently urging Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese to prioritize her performance over outside criticism. The theme of player support was echoed by Carmelo Anthony, who defended his encouragement of Cade Cunningham despite fan backlash. These perspectives collectively challenge the traditional view that elite athletes must play in major markets to achieve success and visibility.