NBA legend and Auburn alumnus Charles Barkley didn’t mince words when asked about comparisons between Auburn star Johni Broome and Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. In a recent appearance on “Straight Out the Jungle,” Barkley dismissed the statistical parallels between the current Tigers standout and the LSU legend as “an idiot take.”
Physical Dominance Cannot Be Measured By Statistics Alone
The comparison stems from Broome’s impressive season as he’s on pace to become the first SEC player since 1991 to average 15 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in conference play the numbers reminiscent of O’Neal’s dominant college career.
But Barkley who works alongside Shaq weekly on “Inside the NBA” was quick to shut down any notion of similarity between the two big men.
“Jojo, anybody who thinks that is stupid” Barkley stated emphatically when host Vince mentioned the statistical comparison. “That’s an idiot take. Do not compare Johni Broome to Shaquille O’Neal.”
Barkley emphasized the vast physical difference between the two players noting, “First of all, Shaq is the biggest human being I’ve ever seen in my life. I work with him every week. That’s not a fair comparison.”
The Auburn legend acknowledged that while statistics can tell part of the story, they fail to capture O’Neal’s unprecedented physical dominance. “You can do the stat thing if you want, but Shaq is one of the most dominant big men in SEC and NBA history” Barkley explained, highlighting the qualitative aspects that numbers alone can’t measure.
In a particularly colorful moment, Barkley suggested that anyone making such comparisons should not be in sports they should be a chef or something, showcasing his trademark unfiltered commentary that has made him a beloved television personality.
Broome’s Excellence Stands On Its Own Merit
Despite rejecting the Shaq comparisons, Barkley had high praise for Broome’s impact at Auburn.
“His ability to stretch the floor. He’s added a jump shot to his game, spreading out, posting at 15-20 feet, even to the free throw line. That’s expanded his game” Barkley noted when discussing what impresses him most about the Tigers’ star.
The NBA Hall of Famer highlighted Broome’s passing ability as particularly noteworthy, explaining, “I think he’s a tremendous passer. That’s why Auburn can run their offense through him,” recognizing how Broome’s skillset differs significantly from O’Neal’s more physically dominating style.
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Barkley even suggested that with continued success, Broome could potentially claim the title of greatest Auburn player ever. “If he can finish this journey, I’d say he’s probably the greatest player in Auburn basketball history. If they win the national championship, I’d put him at the top,” Barkley stated.
While Barkley believes Cooper Flagg of Duke may be the frontrunner for National Player of the Year honors he acknowledged that Broome was “the clear-cut favorite” early in the season before an injury affected his momentum further highlighting the respect he has for Broome’s talents on their own merits.
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