As the 2024 NBA Playoffs unfold, surprising outcomes dominate the court, but alongside the games, criticism floods in for NBA officials. Shaquille O’Neal, however, stands by them, redirecting blame towards the league itself for exacerbating the officials’ situation.

During a detailed discussion on TNT’s Inside the NBA on Tuesday night, Shaq and the crew delved into the league’s handling of officials.

The focal point was the contentious “last two-minute report” released by the NBA after each game, which meticulously dissects the final moments of play, often pinpointing referees’ crucial errors.

Shaquille O’Neal believes the OKC Thunder will make Western Conference finals

Monday’s Knicks vs. Sixers game served as a prime example of this. Shaq weighed in, questioning the utility of such reports. “My question is… you admit it now, but what the f*** does that do for Philadelphia?” Shaq candidly remarked.

He argued that rather than serving a constructive purpose, the last two-minute report only exacerbates the situation for both referees and players. Shaq pointed out that the report intensifies fan scrutiny on officials and leaves players dwelling on the game “afterthoughts.”

In a recent discussion on TNT’s Inside the NBA, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal shared his optimistic outlook for the Oklahoma City Thunder amid their playoff series success. With two wins out of four against the New Orleans Pelicans, Shaq lauded the Thunder’s performance.

“The way they play, I think they are going to be in the Western Conference finals,” Shaq confidently stated, predicting the Thunder’s ascent to the conference finals.

However, his co-host, Charles Barkley, wasn’t fully on board with the prediction, urging caution. “Let us not put them in the conference finals yet. We do not know who is going to win that series,” Barkley countered, sparking a friendly debate.