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NY Post
New York Post
8 May 2023


NextImg:Shaq apologizes to Devin Booker on ‘Inside the NBA’ after another dominant game

Shaquille O’Neal ate a large slice of humble pie on Sunday night.

The former NBA star-turned-analyst said on “Inside the NBA” before Game 4 of Suns vs. Nuggets that Phoenix star Devin Booker, who had a dazzling 20-for-25 shooting night (47 points) in Game 3, would not have a repeat performance in him for Game 4.

Booker then went out and shot 14-for-18, scoring 36 points in the Suns’ Game 4 win, and Shaq issued him a public apology after the game was over.

“Devin Booker I’m sorry, I owe you an apology,” Shaq said. “I got on TV and said you would not go 20-for-25 again, you messed around and went 14-for-18.

Suns guard Devin Booker reacts after scoring against the Nuggets during the first half of Game 4 on May 7, 2023.
Getty Images

“So sir, I apologize. Love the way you’re playing. And again, now we have a series.”

The Suns tied up the series, 2-2, behind Booker’s second straight electrifying shooting performance, with the 26-year-old now having hit 79 percent of his shots over the past two games to bring Phoenix back from a 2-0 deficit.

Kevin Durant added 36 points of his own, and Landry Shamet — who didn’t even get on the floor in Game 2 — was the surprise third scorer without the injured Chris Paul, pouring in 19 points and five 3-pointers.

Devin Booker shoots during Game 4 against the Nuggets on May 7, 2023.

Devin Booker shoots during Game 4 against the Nuggets on May 7, 2023.
Getty Images

It was enough to hold off a heroic performance from Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, who scored 53 points (a Denver franchise playoff record) and added 11 assists in the loss.

The series now returns to Denver for a crucial Game 5 on Tuesday.

It’s not the first time Shaq has made a public apology to a player; in 2021, while interviewing then-Rockets big man Christian Wood after a 27-point performance in a win over the Spurs, O’Neal famously told him, “I owe you an apology. I wasn’t familiar with your game.”

Wood responded to O’Neal’s quote, which has since become a meme, by saying: “Oh man, you’re a casual.”