Shaquille O'Neal Apologizes to New York Knicks After Cavs Sweep

Shaquille O’Neal found himself apologizing to the New York Knicks after their four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

“They are so good I owe the whole state and all five boroughs of New York an apology,” he said. “They are really good, they have it. It reminds me of that Detroit team that beat us my last year there. They just got a bunch of guys that are just together.”

They were a collective group and they fought hard,” O’Neal added while also suggesting the team didn’t have any “big name” players despite having quality stars like Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace. “They never gave up and when I look at this Knicks team they remind be so much of that team.”

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O’Neal apologized, but he did say before the series that he thought the Knicks would breeze through whoever they played in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

O’Neal did say that Karl-Anthony Towns isn’t playing the dominant brand of basketball he’d like to see from the big man, but did offer some props.

“He’s really playing nice, smooth basketball right now, getting everybody involved and initiating the offense from the top of the key,” the four-time NBA champion said.

New York will have a lengthy layoff before the NBA Finals tip off on June 3.

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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 1:46 PM.