Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most dominant and imposing figures in NBA history. His size and the manner in which he’d bully defenders in the post helped make him one of the greatest players to ever play in the association. He always figured out how to use his strength to his advantage, but he wasn’t the only incredibly strong player in the league.
In fact, he once named the strongest NBA players that he’d come up against. Per Essentially Sports, he picked four stars that he’d played against and they are all some of the best basketball players of all time.
The Four Strongest Players Shaq Faced Include One of His Close Friends
When asked to name the strongest players in the NBA, Shaq said:
“I guess, [Patrick] Ewing and [Hakeem] Olajuwon. Karl Malone’s pretty strong too. [Charles] Barkley’s pretty strong too.”
Patrick Ewing
The first name that Shaq mentioned, Patrick Ewing was known for his brute nature inside the post and he never made it easy for defenders trying to contain him. He was a force to be reckoned with and left a lasting impact, despite never managing to get his hands on a championship.
Hakeem Olajuwon
The next player that Shaq named was Hakeem Olajuwon. Considered one of the greatest defenders to ever play in the NBA, he utilised his strength better than almost anyone and had no trouble locking down the opposition. He was drafted two places ahead of Michael Jordan in the 1984 NBA Draft and it’s a testament to how good Olajuwon was that this isn’t considered a total blasphemy.
Karl Malone
Next up is one of the all-time leading scorers in NBA history in Karl Malone. The Postman earned his nickname for his incredible work in the paint and dominated opponents using his strength. He was the immovable force, scoring at will and he did so for nearly two decades in the association. He was as strong as they come and made a major impression on O’Neal.
Charles Barkley
He didn’t know it at the time, but the last name that Shaq mentioned is someone he’d go on to work closely with once their playing days wrapped up. He picked Charles Barkley, someone that has become greatly underrated in the years following his career. During his prime, though, Chuck was a problem and he bulldozed through his opponents to get to the basket. He was a force and while he’s now better known for his work as an analyst, covering the sport, he was an excellent player and a mighty strong one too.
Further details have been released regarding Anthony Smith’s arrest, as the former UFC fighter faces a trio of felonies, including ‘reportedly threatening to kill’ his wife.
Smith retired from mixed martial arts in 2025 after being defeated by Zhang Mingyang. Since then, however, he has also moved into the bare-knuckle space, with a fight against Chase Sherman in Jorge Masvidal‘s Gamebred MMA promotion.
Despite trying to stay active, Smith is now embroiled in this case and facing serious charges. He was arrested in Sarpy County, Nebraska, on Monday, and the full details of the situation and arrest have now emerged.
Statement Further Explains Anthony Smith’s Arrest
The 38-year-old faces a trio of felonies, which include attempted first-degree domestic assault, terroristic threats, and first-degree false imprisonment. Despite being arrested on Monday, he was released on a $500,000 bond.
With the bond agreement, Smith was also ordered to stay away from his wife and have no contact with her while the trial is still pending.
During the bond hearing, more information was revealed by a prosecutor from the Sarpy County Attorney’s Office.
The statement said: “It is alleged that on July 26, 2026, the defendant was involved in an altercation with his wife at a bar in Gretna, Neb, during which he reportedly threatened to kill her if she did not get into his vehicle and go home with him.”
They then added that the confrontation became physical.
“He is further accused of grabbing and pushing her inside the vehicle. At one point, during the drive, she was able to exit the vehicle. The defendant allegedly continued making threats, demanding that she get back inside the vehicle.
“After arriving home, she again exited the vehicle. Investigators allege that the defendant attempted multiple times to use the vehicle to strike her. The defendant’s wife was able to get out of the way and avoid any physical harm.”
Smith eventually turned himself into authorities after an arrest warrant was issued. He is next scheduled to appear in district court on the 17th of August.
Liverpool fans have encouraged one of their star players to ‘pack their bags’ as footage of their actions following the Reds’ 1-0 win over Wrexham on Wednesday has quickly surfaced online. Andoni Iraola’s side prevailed at New York’s Yankee Stadium, courtesy of a deflected effort from teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha in the 75th minute.
Dominik Szoboszlai captained Liverpool for the night and put in a good performance, while young midfielder Trey Nyoni heavily impressed again in a deeper role, like he had in a recent appearance against Sunderland. Besides those two, it was a very experimental side, with the likes of Calvin Ramsay, Calum Scanlon, and Harvey Elliott also among the starters.
Yet, it was a substitute that has caused uproar after the match. In what should have been a rather plainsailing occasion for the Premier League side, footage has now emerged of one Reds’ player appearing to cause a huge argument with his teammates – one that has his supporters theorising his Anfield departure.
Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
A 35-second clip following Liverpool’s pre-season win in midweek appeared to show Curtis Jones – who came off the bench in the 50th minute – throwing his arms around and getting progressively angrier at his teammates about something. He first spoke to captain Szoboszlai, before the likes of Jeremie Frimpong and Kostas Tsimikas tried to calm him down. Watch the incident below:
While it is unclear what provoked the midfielder after the full-time whistle blew, his fans have quickly theorised that it might have been something to do with the fact he didn’t receive the captain’s armband once Szoboszlai came off with 15 minutes to go, raising suspicion about the local lad’s bloated ego.
Reacting to the incident, one X user wrote: “See ya Curtis Jones, off you go. Thinks he’s better than he is. If he wasn’t Scouse he wouldn’t still be there,” as a second added: “Arrogant f****r who thinks he is miles better than he is. Pack your bags. A third remarked: “Just sell this idiot already.”
Meanwhile, a fourth continued: “If he wants to go, let him go”, as a fifth concluded: “His attitude these preseason games has been pathetic. Just sell him already, he clearly doesn’t wanna be here anymore and has an ego like he’s prime Iniesta.”
Liverpool’s Transfer Business Needs A Lot of Work
via Reuters
At present, the Reds have secured deals for World Cup winner Victor Munoz and Ibrahima Konate replacement Jeremy Jacquet, but there is still a feeling that more arrivals are needed before Iraola has the tools to succeed at Anfield.
Liverpool’s recruitment team are trying to work out a deal to bring Bradley Barcola through the doors in a deal that will exceed the £100 million mark again, but midfield needs to be prioritised, too. Jones looks increasingly likely to leave the club, while Ryan Gravenberch’s desire to venture forward means Iraola’s options in defensive midfield are limited.
With a little under a month until the Premier League season gets underway as the Reds take a trip to Newcastle, it remains to be seen whether they will add another midfielder to their squad. The feeling is that they certainly need one.
It has been a summer of upheaval for Newcastle United so far and things are only going to get worse as news emerged on Thursday morning that manager Eddie Howe would be leaving the club.
Howe was under pressure for vast swathes of the 2025/26 season, with Newcastle finishing 12th in the Premier League. And now the Englishman is departing St James’ Park.
Both the manager and the club initially agreed they would continue together this season, but Howe has decided it is time to move on and has informed Newcastle that he will step down.
The Magpies have not wasted nay time lining up a successor though, with Matthias Jaissle of Al Ahli, set to be named as his replacement.
