Shaquille O’Neal follows ‘one timeline’ approach drafting Curry to his All-Star squad

Team Shaq features veterans and gold medalists Steph, LeBron, KD, AD, and Jayson Tatum

Joe Lacob might have tried to get a mix of young players and veterans if he was drafting an All-Star team. Shaquille O’Neal leaned on veterans, legends, and gold medalists from Team USA when putting together Team Shaq.

Shaq went old school as the members of TNT’s “Inside The NBA” each drafted a team of eight All-Stars for next weekend’s game at the Chase Center. After taking LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers with his first pick, O’Neal proceeded to reunite last summer’s Olympic basketball team. Team Shaq has five players from that team: James, Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Anthony Davis from the Lakers Dallas Mavericks, Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns, and Steve Kerr favorite Jayson Tatum.

That’s the opposite of the Warriors’ notorious “two timelines” approach, where they tried to add teenagers to flank out a roster led by Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson. Shaq may not have been able to draft an older All-Star team if he tried. There’s only one timeline, and that timeline is going to be eligible for Social Security payments soon.

Perhaps worried that the team didn’t have enough veteran experience with 40-year-old James playing with 36-year-olds Curry and Durant, O’Neal also took 35-year-old James Harden and 34-year-old Damian Lillard. Rounding out the team is Tatum’s Boston Celtics teammate, Jaylen Brown, who could have been on the Olympic team as well but for an alleged Nike conspiracy.

It’s an impressive team, albeit one that would have been even more impressive 3-4 years ago. They might well have eight future Hall of Famers, with six players on Team Shaq also part of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. Collectively, the team has 87 All-Star appearances, 13 championship rings, and eight clear memories of the events of September 11th. Tatum is four weeks from his 27th birthday, and he’s the baby of the group.

Shaq clearly believes in championship pedigree. He’s also a longtime spokesman for Icy Hot, so his draft might have been a product placement opportunity.

As for the other denizens of Studio J, Charles Barkley went international. He drafted players from Canada, Turkey, France, Cameroon, Greece, Serbia, and the USA, including Karl-Anthony Towns, who plays for the Dominican Republic’s national team. How do you say “GUARANTEE!” in Greek?

As per Barkley’s historical beliefs about the Warriors and teams of their ilk, he ended up drafting a team with very few jump-shooters. Can a non-jump-shooting team win an All-Star Game? Alperen Sengun, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are going to find out.

Kenny Smith’s team is based on youth, with 28-year-old Jalen Brunson the oldest player. He’s got two No. 1 overall picks in Anthony Edwards and Cade Cunningham and a very fast team, perhaps inspired by Smith constantly having to race his colleagues to the video board.

It’s Old vs. Young! USA vs. The World! And probably, A Random Collection Of Rookies, Sophomores Or G-Leaguers vs. Probably Team Shaq, because the NBA is going to want Steph and LeBron in the All-Star final. Expect them to get more favorable treatment than Patrick Mahomes at an NFL referees convention.

All we really know is that the international team is in trouble. Because you can’t expect Charles Barkley’s team to win in the finals.