Shea Serrano’s Tribute to Shaquille O’Neal
On October 27, Shea Serrano released his latest literary work, *Expensive Basketball*, a deep dive into the moments and players that have shaped his basketball journey. This New York Times bestselling author offers a unique perspective that resonates with avid fans, providing a personal touch that elevates the narrative beyond mere statistics.
A Surprising Homage to Shaquille O’Neal
Among the standout chapters, Serrano finds himself reflecting on the formidable Shaquille O’Neal, former center for the Los Angeles Lakers. While Serrano is a lifelong supporter of the San Antonio Spurs, his admiration for O’Neal’s impact on the game is unmistakable. The clashes between O’Neal’s Lakers and the Duncan-Robinson Spurs are legendary. Yet, Serrano’s reverence extends to the many other teams and players O’Neal dominated during his prime.
In the 2000 NBA Finals, O’Neal, alongside Kobe Bryant, faced off against the Indiana Pacers, led by none other than Serrano’s childhood idol, Hall of Famer Reggie Miller. Following a stunning Game 1 performance from Allen Iverson in the 2001 Finals, O’Neal’s Lakers swiftly dismantled the Philadelphia 76ers, securing the championship in five games. The Lakers also thwarted the Chris Webber-led Sacramento Kings during their three consecutive title runs from 2000 to 2002. O’Neal’s dominance was so profound that the league felt compelled to adapt its rules to counter his influence, notably allowing zone defenses.
Defending the Big Diesel
In a candid conversation, Serrano expressed his mixed feelings about those years. “Here’s what’s crazy: 2000-2002 Lakers Shaq f—ing ruined my life, my basketball life,” he admitted. “He’s attached to so many horrible memories, and yet I find myself in these conversations defending him when someone says, ‘Oh, Shaq would get played off the court in the NBA today.’ Are you f—ing out of your mind?”
Serrano believes that a version of O’Neal from that era would thrive in today’s game, predicting he would average “like 40 and 28.” He challenged the notion that modern strategies would limit O’Neal’s effectiveness. “What about the other side? You’ve got to deal with this f—ing volcano of a human, who’s going to do whatever he wants,” Serrano pointed out.
He compared O’Neal’s potential impact in the current NBA to that of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, albeit in a different style. “Shaq today would be like, ‘What if the Joker was fast?'” Serrano mused, highlighting how O’Neal would dominate in the paint without needing to adopt a perimeter shooting game.
The Rationale Behind *Expensive Basketball*
Serrano’s decision to revisit basketball as a writing topic comes eight years after his previous bestseller, *Basketball (And Other Things)*. He explained, “If you’re going to write a book about something, you can only write it about something that you love… for me, the only things I really, really love, pop culture-wise, are basketball, rap, movies, and probably TV.”
The challenge was finding a hook for his new book. He contemplated various themes, ranging from a deep dive into Tim Duncan’s legacy to an exploration of the 2000-2002 Lakers. Ultimately, Serrano sought to capture the emotional connections people have with their favorite basketball memories, a theme he discovered while conversing with friends.
“I kept asking everybody the same question, which was, ‘Tell me about your favorite basketball memory,’” he shared. The responses revealed a pattern centered on emotional experiences rather than mere numbers and statistics. “When somebody’s telling you about a thing that they love, it’s always this feeling, this emotion first,” he said, underscoring his goal to evoke that passion in his writing.
Serrano’s *Expensive Basketball* isn’t just a tribute to the game; it’s an exploration of the feelings that basketball ignites, ensuring that the essence of the sport resonates with fans on a deeper level.
