The GOAT debate in basketball for sure has some strong contenders and Shaquille O’Neal has given an interesting answer on where he stands in the argument over who is the sport’s all-time great.

Several names crop up when the NBA’s best ever players are mentioned, and many would include Shaq in that conversation.

The 52-year-old became NBA champion on four occasions, the first three between 2000 and 2002 with the LA Lakers, and then again in 2006 with Miami Heat.

He was also crowned the NBA Finals MVP three times between 2000 and 2002 and the NBA’s Most Valuable Player outright in 2000.

In the GOAT debate, Michael Jordan inevitably comes up too.

Jordan is a six-time NBA Champion following a legendary spell with the Chicago Bulls and an extraordinary career on the court.

As well as winning six NBA titles, Jordan was crowned the MVP in the NBA Finals a total of six times, as well as being named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player overall on five instances after playing for the Bulls and the Washington Wizards.

LeBron James in a firm contender in that discussion too, thanks to becoming NBA champion on four occasions with Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and the LA Lakers, also being the NBA Finals MVP a quartet of times.

And the late Kobe Bryant, who spent his entire career with the LA Lakers, is another protagonist after becoming NBA champion five times and twice being crowned the NBA Finals MVP in 2009 and 2010.

Speaking to The Old Man and The Three podcast on YouTube, Shaq has now discussed the GOAT conversation between him and the other three players, Jordan, Bryant and James.

And he has explained why he does not want to be considered in the discussion, saying that the doubt that some might have about him compared to the others means he does not want to be mentioned in the same breath in this debate.

When it was put to him he was part of the conversation, he said: “No. I get jealous that my name is not in that greatest of all time, but I come from an era of if it’s not dominantly for sure, don’t mention my name.

“Of course we have a lot of different categories. The most dominant category, I’m him. You can only say one other name and I don’t want to hear nobody else’s name.

“The greatest of all time, I would like to be in that conversation, but if it’s not definite? When you talk about LeBron and Mike, it’s definite, and Kobe should be added to that.

“I want to be in that conversation but if I’m not in that conversation, I don’t want no f*****g considerations.

“I’m jealous I’m not in that conversation, I would like, but when it comes to one of the greatest big men, I am in that conversation, that’s definite.

“We can talk about that – one of the greatest big men in Orlando Magic’s history? That’s definite, we can have a conversation, but if it’s not definite, I don’t want to hear it.”