Legendary four-time NBA champion Shaquille O'Neal has openly admitted that he feels jealousy towards certain players, but he uses that jealousy as a source of motivation.
“I’m motivated by desire,” O’Neal revealed. “I envy Steph Curry, I wish I could shoot like him. I envy Klay Thompson – I wish my jump shot was as good as his.”
O'Neal, who is widely regarded as one of the most dominant big men in NBA history, acknowledged there are aspects of other players' games that he admires and would like to emulate.
“I’m jealous of LeBron. He’s almost a billionaire, and I’m not,” the Hall of Famer continued. “But instead of taking that envy and turning it into hate, I turn it into motivation.”
O'Neal's candid admission highlights the complex emotions even the greatest athletes can feel. Despite his own unparalleled accomplishments and accolades, the former center still finds himself coveting certain skills and accomplishments of his contemporaries.
However, rather than letting this envy turn into resentment, O'Neal found a productive way to channel those feelings into pushing himself to improve and excel.
"I thought, 'OK, Steph can shoot like that, so what can I do to get better?'" O'Neal explained. "I see Klay's classic form, and I try to incorporate that into my own game. With LeBron's business acumen, I'm like, 'What can I do to be more like him in that regard?'"
This mindset of using envy as a catalyst for self-improvement, rather than a source of negativity, speaks to O'Neal's remarkable maturity and self-awareness. He understands that comparing himself to others is a natural human inclination, but he has consciously chosen to harness this instinct in a way that fuels his own growth and development.
By embracing his jealousy and turning it into motivation, O'Neal was able to maintain a relentless drive to excel, even long after his playing career ended. This approach undoubtedly contributed to his lasting legacy as one of the most dominant and accomplished players in NBA history.
O'Neal's candid confession and insightful perspective offer a valuable lesson to athletes and competitors of all levels. Rather than letting envy consume them, they can follow O'Neal's example and use it as a powerful tool to unlock their own potential and achieve greatness.
