Is Steph Curry the Ultimate NBA Cheat Code? Shaquille O’Neal Thinks So

There are certain legends in sports whose words carry enormous weight. Shaquille O’Neal is one of those voices. Towering at 7-foot-1, “Shaq” didn’t just dominate NBA courts for nearly two decades—he transcended the game, racking up MVPs, titles, and highlight-reel moments alongside some of the greatest names ever to play basketball. From his iconic partnership with the late, great Kobe Bryant to his championship run with Dwyane Wade in Miami, Shaq’s opinion is considered gospel in NBA circles.

So when Shaq, speaking candidly on the popular show Off the Record, began reflecting on his career, the basketball world was all ears. Most questions centered around the legendary dynasties—those Lakers teams that seemed invincible at the start of the millennium, fueled by Shaq’s brute force and Kobe’s surgical precision. Fans, analysts and former teammates alike have always wondered: “What if Shaq and Kobe had stayed together longer? How many rings could they have really won?”

But then, Shaq dropped a bombshell. A statement that, for basketball fans, quickly set social media ablaze and made highlight shows across the world. “Our guy (Kobe) had room to operate ’cause I got three people on me,” Shaq started, drawing laughs from the hosts and nods from anyone who remembered the double—and triple—teams Shaq routinely faced. “Probably get a lot of flak, but I always said myself, I think I could’ve got three in a row with T-Mac. I think I could’ve got two with Vince. Oh, I know I get six with Steph.”

Wait, did Shaq just say that teaming up with Steph Curry would have guaranteed him more championships than a partnership with Kobe Bryant? The man who once broke backboards and shattered the confidence of entire franchises suddenly called Steph—a player famously a foot shorter and a hundred pounds lighter—the “ultimate lock” for a dynasty. Fans sat back, stunned, and tried to picture it.

Shaq and Steph Curry. Two players as different in style as they were in stature. One, the most dominant post force the NBA has perhaps ever seen. The other, the most revolutionary shooter the game has ever known.

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The Gravity of Greatness

To really appreciate Shaq’s claim, you have to understand what h

Shaq was unstoppable in the paint. Defenses routinely collapsed around him, sending two or three defenders to deny him the ball or double-team his first dribble. That opened up the floor for shooters—like Derek Fisher, Robert Horry, and most importantly, Kobe Bryant. But even with the best perimeter player of his era as a teammate, Shaq acknowledges that there was another level of offensive “cheat code” the league had never seen… until Curry.

Steph Curry’s gravity works from the outside-in. His ability to torch defenses from well beyond the three-point ark bends a whole defense the other direction—stretching opponents out, opening up lanes, and creating space that never existed before he entered the league. Curry isn’t just a shooter; he’s a walking, dribbling, 30-foot threat that alters every defensive scheme.

Imagine the two together. Shaq doesn’t just think that’d be dangerous—he’s convinced nobody could stop them. “I know I get six with Steph,” he said, nodding like the outcome was as plainly obvious as a dunk at an open rim.

Dynasties That Could Have Been

Let’s play the ultimate NBA “what if?” What if Shaq and Curry had been teammates at the height of their powers?

Think of it: Shaq, muscling his way in the paint, drawing help defenders like a supernova. A simple kick out to Curry? Defenders would face an impossible choice—stick to Shaq, and Curry gets a clean look; collapse on Steph, and Shaq is one-step from an unstoppable dunk.

Every offense would become a nightmare for defensive coordinators: pick-and-rolls with Shaq as the screener, Curry launching 30-foot bombs if the center sags, or lobbing it to Shaq if the defense hedges high. Opposing defenders, caught between two impossible choices, would crumble—just as they did when Shaq was paired with Kobe… only more so.

And it’s not just theoretical. Both players are proven winners, both have changed the geometry of the NBA in their own ways, and both are unselfish superstars who didn’t need to dominate the ball to impact the game. Shaq commands the paint, Curry commands the perimeter—basketball’s ultimate inside-outside tandem.

Approval From the Titans

As revolutionary as Curry’s impact on basketball has been, there are still traditionalists who question whether a player of his style—undersized by NBA standards, finesse rather than brute force, perimeter-oriented—could dominate in any era. But now he gets the ultimate stamp of approval: not from a contemporary, but from one of the most dominant big men in basketball history.

This isn’t just an empty compliment. Shaq openly acknowledges the value of previous running mates. “Three with T-Mac, two with Vince…”—high praise for Hall of Famers like Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter. But when it comes to Curry, his voice doesn’t waver. Six. A “lock.” The certainty in Shaq’s tone says everything you need to know about how much respect he has for Steph—respect that crosses generations and styles.

It’s not just scoring or clutch shooting. It’s about how Curry influences an entire defense, how his very presence changes the game. It’s a synergy so potent that Shaq, who once seemed unguardable himself, openly fantasizes about how easy it would have made the chase for championships.

A New Kind of Revolution

Curry’s revolution extends far beyond his three-point shooting. Kids on playgrounds worldwide now launch threes instead of dreaming about dunk contests. Front offices and coaches build rosters around shooting and spacing, inspired by Steph’s Warriors.

But perhaps most telling? The game’s older legends—who thrived in physical, bruising eras—now tip their hats to the kid from Davidson. Shaq’s praise isn’t just hyperbole; it’s an admission: “This guy broke basketball as we knew it, and if I had teamed up with him, we’d be unbeatable.”

It’s the highest compliment, the ultimate what if—maybe even the ultimate “cheat code.”

Legacy and Legend

So, is Steph Curry the NBA’s ultimate “cheat code?” Maybe he is—not because he breaks rules, but because he changes what’s possible. Not because he makes the game unfair, but because he elevates teammates, shatters expectations, and inspires legends to wonder what their greatness might look like alongside his own unique brilliance.

Thanks to Shaq’s words, “I know I get six with Steph,” the next time a young player launches a wild three-pointer at the gym, you might just hear Shaq’s voice echo in your mind—reminding you that sometimes the future of basketball isn’t just about strength or leaping ability, but about changing the very rules of engagement.

And sometimes, champions from different generations get it better than anyone: the ultimate stamp of approval for the game’s ultimate cheat code.