Former NBA superstar turned analyst Shaquille O’Neal called out the Cleveland Cavaliers GM Mike Gansey on his own podcast, The Big Podcast.
Surprisingly, O’Neal’s frustration wasn’t over anything the Cavs specifically did wrong in the playoffs as a team or an individual being disappointing. Rather, the three-time Finals MVP expressed his bewilderment over why Emoni Bates wasn’t in the playoff rotation.
Bates played 10 games for the Cavs this season, primarily spending his time with the franchise’s G League . He played 20 games for the Cleveland Charge, averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
He was selected 49th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.
“To the Cleveland Cavaliers general manager, what the f*** are you doing?” O’Neal said. “Why is Emoni Bates in the f***ing G League? What the f*** is going on?! This mother f***er can play. The last game you put him in, he had — what? seven threes? — Don’t you think you need that for a f***ing championship?
“Whoever you are, general manager for Cleveland, what the f*** are you doing?”
O’Neal is referring to Cleveland’s final game of the regular season, a double-overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers. Bates scored 25 points to go along with six rebounds in 42 minutes. He shot 7-for-15 from beyond the arc.
To the Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager,
What the f**k are you doing? pic.twitter.com/Hbf8MNPRPa
— The Big Podcast (@bigpodwithshaq) June 8, 2025
Cavaliers’ Bates Responds To O’Neal
Bates has since responded to the podcast quip, expressing gratitude for the and that his hard work will pay off one day.
all love OG @SHAQ appreciate the love 💯work gone show 💯 https://t.co/DTVEFopyb1
— Emoni Bates (@BatesEmoni) June 9, 2025
The disappointing part of O’Neal’s rant is that it shows just how little he pays attention to the league. Sure, everyone in the league or on the outskirts of the league can play.
There is still a significant gap between being the 17th man on a two-way contract and the seventh or eighth man in an NBA playoff rotation. Let’s face it, O’Neal couldn’t even name who the Cavs’ GM or president is.
Scoring 25 points in the final game of the regular season when both teams were resting stars ahead of the playoffs is virtually meaningless.
Bates hasn’t even averaged above 20 points in the G League for a season. The Cavs were able to get to 64 wins this season prior to a disappointing playoff exit that had a lot to do with injury.
There’s a lot the Cavs front office has done right. If they feel Bates hasn’t graduated from the G League just yet, they probably know more about their player than O’Neal.
