A Royal Pain
Fansided

Shaquille O’Neal, Part Owner Of Sacramento Kings, Doesn’t Know Harrison Barnes

By Anthony Cardenas

SACRAMENTO, CA - OCTOBER 30: Shaquille O'Neal minority owner of the NBA Sacramento Kings speaks at a press conference prior to the start of the opening nignt game between the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena on October 30, 2013 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - OCTOBER 30: Shaquille O'Neal minority owner of the NBA Sacramento Kings speaks at a press conference prior to the start of the opening nignt game between the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena on October 30, 2013 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Shaquille O’Neal, part-owner of the Sacramento Kings, either doesn’t know who Harrison Barnes is or is still affected by a 15+ year old rivalry.

Some feuds and rivalries never die, and it is apparent that the one between the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers run deep, at least in the hearts of former players.

Back in the early 2000s at the height of their rivalry, both the Kings and Lakers were Western Conference powerhouses and had classic playoff battles that defined the legacy of multiple players. One of the most villainous figures in the feud was Shaquille O’Neal, who was not shy about his disdain for the “Sacramento Queens”, as he called them.

There was a video of Shaq dissing Vlade Divac in a made up song to the ring-toned tune of the Cheers theme. According to the late Kobe Bryant, Shaq mooned the Kings fans as the Lakers bus pulled out of ARCO Arena after Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.

Plenty has happened for both franchises since then, and the intensity of the rivalry has certainly cooled over the last 15+ years. There have been roster and ownership changes, including O’Neal himself purchasing a minority stake in the Sacramento Kings when the team was sold back in 2013.

Apparently, despite his now-affiliation with the Kings franchise, O’Neal is still encapsulated in the animosity between the two teams.

Must Read. A Royal Pain's 2020 NBA Mock Draft 1.0. light

While we are not sure if it is a running joke, but in certain interviews and media appearances, O’Neal often forgets who is and who is not on the Kings roster. One instance happened back in 2017 while appearing on the Wizards Tipoff Podcast when he said that Otto Porter was playing for his team in Sacramento. Porter was not, and was never close aside from a rumor that the Kings were interested during that summer’s free agency period.

Another instance of O’Neal taking shots at his former foe happened just last week during TNT’s Inside The NBA broadcast. The usual suspects were discussing the Western Conference playoff race and Charles Barkley asked O’Neal a question about Harrison Barnes:

"“Has your boy shaved yet?” asked Barkley.“What? Shave what?” responded Shaq.“Harrison Barnes said he’s not going to shave until they hit .500”“I don’t even know who that is, who is that? Oh! Harrison Barnes, I’m sorry, yeah,”  joked Shaq."

Or was he joking? Does NBA analyst Shaquille O’Neal really not know who Barnes is? While the Kings small forward is certainly not a star in the league, he is a recognizable veteran and long-time player in the league. The way that O’Neal responded to the question and then realize who Barnes was without anyone giving him any further clues or information makes me believe that it was planned humor, a premeditated disparaging of Sacramento and the Kings.

Next. Alex Len Has Been A Pleasant Surprise. dark

O’Neal has been known to be one of the more sensitive and defensive super stars from the recent past, so it is not surprising that he is still affected by a rivalry that has simmered over the years.

Home/Kings News