The Utah Jazz have fallen out of relevance since blowing it up in 2022, for sure. However, among everything that has gone wrong, the average NBA fan knows who Lauri Markkanen is. Or at least, well enough to know his name, no?
Well, Shaquille O'Neal apparently doesn't. When Dwyane Wade made an appearance on Shaq's podcast, Wade gushed about the JJJ trade, which, in response, O'Neal asked how JJJ would fit next to "Marky Marklin" before asking about Markkanen's exact name in full.
...Come on, Shaq.
This guy gets paid hundreds of millions a year to talk about the very league he used to play and dominate in (except against the Jazz). He really doesn't know Markkanen's name? More than that, the name he gave Markkanen sounded like Mark Wahlberg's rap name back in the 90s (Marky Mark).
In his defense, it makes sense if he's not really up to date on the Jazz, as they have only continuously fallen further into the NBA cellar over the past four years, so it's difficult to keep tabs on a team like that. However, O'Neal had better get Markkanen's name down by the time next season starts because he and the Jazz are putting the league on notice this coming fall.
This only gives Utah bulletin board material
There isn't much that motivates a team more than being underrated. In this specific sense, the Jazz are so slept on that one of the NBA's greatest players, and most popular figures, in Shaq, doesn't even know the full name of an All-Star big like Lauri Markkanen. That should give Utah all the more motivation to prove to everyone that they shouldn't be slept on.
The Jazz have left nothing to the imagination about their plans for next season. With everyone back healthy next season, the Western Conference should be on high alert when they face Utah. Markkanen will be leading the way when they do, and when he does, guys like Shaq will regret not having his name down.
What's affected Markkanen's name recognition in this league is the fact that he made thr All-Star team once, it was three years ago, and of course, the Jazz haven't won anything. Still though, even the most casual NBA fans know his name by now, and for that reason, so should Shaq.
Here's to hoping that when Shaq does get Markkanen's name right next season, he won't show as much disrespect as he has for other Jazz alumni like Rudy Gobert...