Recently, Shaquille O’Neal explained why he looks up to Stephen Curry, the star of the Golden State Warriors. O’Neal said that Curry doesn’t appear to be your normal NBA juggernaut, but that he constantly smashes limits with his unique skill set. On the podcast ‘Unapologetically Angel,’ hosted by WNBA player Angel Reese, O’Neal elaborated:

Why is Steph Curry so amazing to me? Simply said, I’ve never seen something like that initially… He isn’t 6’9″ or 6’10” and doesn’t have LeBron-level muscles, if you saw Steph Curry walking down the street. He gives off the impression of being a typical office worker. Things people have never seen before are happening because of him.

For Shaq, the understated nature of Curry’s body only serves to highlight the extraordinary nature of his achievements and the extraordinary nature of his dominance on the court.

O’Neal, who stood at an impressive 7 feet tall, belonged to a generation of large men who achieved great success via physical prowess and psychological domination. For an individual like Shaq, who embodied the essence of the “big man” game, the achievement of Curry recast the definition of an NBA superstar.

Curry has continually shown that he is one of the most important players in recent NBA history, despite lacking the physical attributes usually associated with elite athletes, unlike LeBron James, who is both tall and athletic. Curry most intrigues O’Neal because of the contrast between his outward look and the influence he has.

Even though Curry has reached new heights in the long-range game, Shaq compared him to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, a sharpshooter from the 1990s who showed glimpses of Curry’s range. The three-point shot was typically considered an auxiliary tactic before to Curry.

Shooting was mainly the domain of supporting cast members as teams depended on big men and physical presence in the paint. But Curry changed the game with this strategy. Thanks to his talent and smart playmaking, the three-point line became a weapon every team needed, changing the league’s focus and making shooting a crucial component of every game strategy. Shaq notes that Curry’s three-point shooting isn’t due to natural talent but rather to his practise, commitment, and high basketball IQ.

Among O’Neal’s many accolades for Curry are his claims that Curry is “the greatest shooter of all time” and that he ranks among the all-time great point guards. Beyond his basketball career, Shaq admires Curry for what he stands for: as an inspiration to regular people.

Because he doesn’t represent the archetypal NBA star, O’Neal claims that Curry “makes millions dream” with his everyday, “office guy” appearance. Those who don’t think they measure up to Curry should take heart from his achievements; they can still achieve greatness by honing their own abilities, including as their shooting and court vision.

Curry’s impact goes well beyond his own achievements. Even big men have been inspired to develop long-range shots and venture outside the paint thanks to his style, which has revolutionized the NBA. In contrast to Shaq’s time, modern centers such as Nikola Jokić and Joel Embiid routinely shoot three-pointers. O’Neal concedes that Curry’s play has changed the fundamentals of the game and shown that it’s possible to win without the usual physical advantages.

A new era has dawned in the NBA, and Shaq has seen it in Curry. These days, it’s more about technique and versatility than about raw strength. The pioneering work of Steph Curry has shown that NBA success isn’t necessarily about height or muscle; rather, it’s about playing to one’s strengths and challenging oneself.

O’Neal thinks that Curry’s influence is magnified by his modest, approachable demeanor, which is actually a component of his remarkable qualities. The fact that Shaq thinks so highly of Curry is strong evidence that he has left an indelible mark on the sport and given hope to a new generation that anything is possible.