Shaquille O’Neal voiced clear frustration with LaMelo Ball after the Minnesota Timberwolves guard appeared on Inside the NBA ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Ball, now in his first year with the Timberwolves after years with the Charlotte Hornets, was asked about his hopes for a team expected to contend in the Western Conference.
His response drew immediate criticism from the former NBA champion and TNT analyst.
When Ernie Johnson pressed Ball on his outlook for the season and the chance to compete for a title, Ball replied, “I don’t really throw expectations on nothing. I just go out there and give it my all, try to be the best we can be, and let that be where it’s at.” The answer reflected a controlled, process-oriented approach that has become common among younger players, yet it did not sit well with O’Neal.
O’Neal responded bluntly once the interview concluded.
“His mindset needs to change. I was kind of baffled by that answer,” O’Neal said. “At least say playoffs or something. Expectations for them are to win a championship.
“You have a guy that, if he plays well, will be talked about as MVP (Anthony Edwards), and if everything goes well with their role players and Rudy Gobert has one or two breakout games like he had last year, then they have a chance to make some noise in the West. But for that, he needs to change his mindset.”
The critique carried extra weight because of O’Neal’s own experience. After joining the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency, he faced constant scrutiny about delivering championships.
He argued that Ball, now playing alongside a rising star in Edwards and a proven interior force in Gobert, should embrace higher stakes rather than sidestep them.
In O’Neal’s view, declining to mention playoff aspirations or title contention suggested an unwillingness to accept the responsibility that comes with joining a contender.
Ball’s prior NBA career offered some context for his measured reply. Across multiple seasons in Charlotte, the Hornets never reached the playoffs.
The move to Minnesota represented his first opportunity to play for a team with genuine title ambitions, yet his comments suggested he preferred to avoid projecting outcomes he could not fully control.
Minnesota quickly provided an on-court counterpoint. On opening night, the Timberwolves defeated the Miami Heat by 25 points. Ball contributed 21 points and six assists while deferring to Edwards, who scored 45.
The performance showed Ball could facilitate an offense built around Edwards, Gobert, and Jaden McDaniels.
Whether one strong night is enough to quiet questions about his mindset remains to be seen, but the Timberwolves will need consistent production from their new point guard if they hope to challenge teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs in the West.
