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🏀 Shaq Spent $1M in 30 Minutes!

🏀 Shaq Spent $1M in 30 Minutes!

Chris Lesiak
September 21, 2022

How a lower NBA draft age changes everything, Scottie Pippen's new book casts light on MJ's finals benching, and how Shaq once spent $1M in 30 minutes!

Happy Humpday!

NBA DRAFT AGE

How a Lower NBA Draft Age Changes Everything

The NBA and NBPA are expected to announce that as early as 2024, the draft eligibility age will drop from 19 to 18 years old. This change will have several tremendous repercussions, but the impact will be felt most notably in college hoops.

The most obvious impact is that college will suffer from a substantial talent drain, likely ending the one-and-done era. Most projected lottery picks will forgo the mandatory year of college and get started on their pro careers. At the same time, this drain could return college hoops back to the early 2000s, when teams were older and had more continuity. With the current system, it’s nearly impossible to build a dynasty program, but now, things could quickly change.

This move has other more immediate impacts, such as the potential end for non-traditional NBA paths like the G League Ignite or Overtime Elite. The allure of these programs was mainly players getting paid earlier, but their salaries can’t compete with NBA entry-level contracts, and it’s likely to be a big issue.

Additionally, in the short term, much to the delight of teams like the Thunder and Rockets, the 2024 draft should end up being loaded, with some experts labeling it as a “double draft” due to the likely influx of high-end high school talent.

SCOTTIE PIPPEN & MJ

Scottie Pippen's New Book Casts Light On MJ's Finals Benching

In 1992 the Bulls won their second of three consecutive titles after defeating the Clyde Drexler-led Portland Trail Blazers. The Bulls won in Game 6 but only after a bold decision by assistant coach Tex Winter — benching Michael Jordan.

According to Pippen, Winter pleaded with Phil Jackson to take MJ out of the game because he was hogging the ball, and Jackson listened. With the Bulls down 14 points, MJ was benched, and Pippen led the Bulls on a 14-2 run. With the game back at 81-78, MJ returned, and the Bulls ended up winning 97-93. MJ was still named Finals MVP and scored 33 points in this game, but it’s certainly possible a fourth-quarter slump could have cost them the game.

Rarely is taking the ball out of MJ’s hands a good idea, but in this instance, it’s hard to argue with the results!

SHAQ

How Shaq Once Spent $1M in 30 Minutes!

Shaquille O'Neal might be one of the best NBA players turned investors; after all, he was one of the first people to invest in Google, but it wasn’t always this way. In fact, before he was even drafted he once dropped a million dollars in 30 minutes!

Right after he got a $1M check from a trading car company, Shaq went out and bought him and his parents a total of three high-end Mercedes-Benz vehicles and then topped it off with a bunch of jewelry and some fancy clothes.

Unfortunately, Shaq didn’t account for things like agent fees, FICA, sales, and state tax, which led to an uncomfortable conversation with his bank manager. But Shaq learned his lesson and actually makes more money nowadays than he did during his playing career — reportedly $60M!