Jermaine O’Neal and Bonzi Wells BIG3 interview at NYC practice

Jermaine O’Neal spoke to FanSided about the infamous Iverson prank on Punked, the BIG3 experience, and Bonzi Wells joined in for classic trash talk.

FanSided caught up with Jermaine O’Neal and Bonzi Wells during BIG3’s practice at the Barclays center on Thursday night. The two shared some classic jabs back and forth, both putting themselves as contenders for the BIG3’s coveted Best Trash Talker award next year against current champion Gary Payton. O’Neal reminisced about the time AI called him up to head out to a club in LA, only to be turned away in the infamous episode of Ashton Kutcher’s Punk’d and answered the question… Did he ever get AI back for the prank?

O’Neal spoke about what it was like as a 17-year old coming into the league over on the Portland Trail Blazers and how it was like college 101 for him. FanSided had an opportunity to ask about Jabari Parker’s recent comments post-signing about ‘How you get paid for offense, not defense’ as well, which O’Neal had a very balanced perspective on. It’s early to know if Jermaine O’Neal will be back for the BIG3 this year but as a member on the Board of Directors, he’s in it for the long haul. Of course, Bonzi didn’t let me forget about his peers Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, and Karl Malone!

Watch FanSided’s interview with Jermaine O’Neal and Bonzi Wells, or read a transcript of the conversation below.

FanSided.com [Nir Regev]: I got a question for you actually from back in the day. I remember seeing you on Punked when AI wouldn’t let you go into a club. I was wondering if you ever got him back for that?

Jermaine O’Neal: I did not! You know it was interesting, I was living in L.A. and he called me and said he’s having a birthday party. I remember I was in bed and wasn’t really feeling it. And he was like, “Come on out! Come on out!” I think that’s why I was so upset because he’s the one that invited me to the club. But it was one of those things where they do a really good job, you know? Ashton does a good job and getting people’s motors really revved up. But he got me! I never had a chance to get him back and actually we never even talked about it after.

How’s the BIG3 experience been for you?

Good! I think everybody’s really starting to see the vision of what [Ice] Cube and Jeff [Kwatinetz] thought about. I think it’s a genius idea just like anything new you continue to get some of those rough edges out. But for the most part as you can see, the talent level is just increasing. It’s a very physical league.

I think people really relate to 3-on-3 because that’s kind of like the traditional way of learning how to play basketball growing up in parks. And a lot of people still love to see some of the faces that they’ve seen growing up. They still come out and support us, every night we come into these arenas, it’s 10-14,000 people. I think this league is just going to continue getting bigger and bigger.

I saw you were talking a bit of trash with Bonzi [Wells] before.

Puddin’?

Do you think might be in the running next year for Best Trash Talker with [Gary] Payton?

Nah, the difference is with me is he knows. This is my rook! I was 18 years old and he was like 22-23, he was my rookie. Right? So I taught him a lot! He’s like a old young guy. So he remembers these buckets I used to get to him. So I don’t really need to talk trash. See my buckets come when I smell the popcorn when I see people in the stands. I’m not going to really mess around right now, I’m gonna let him talk as much as he wanna talk.

Bonzi Wells: Listen, he [Jermaine] could play… He was okay at best! But I know a couple of guys that were way better than him, when you’re talking about Karl Malone, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Sheed! I’m not gonna lie, my partner could play, he wasn’t better than me though.

Jabari Parker said recently you get paid for offense rather defense. I was wondering for you as a guy who could do both how you feel about that?

That’s his opinion. I mean for decades there’s been players that were dominant offensive guys, there’s been players that have been dominant defensive guys. There’s not that many guys that are two-way guys that can do at a high clip. So I don’t really have a problem with him saying that. That’s his beliefs. And obviously I think with the money they just paid him, they are paying him to go score. But I think it’s overstated a little bit because you do understand in the NBA you gotta play defense. Now is he a lockdown defender? Probably not. But he does play some defense.

What did it mean to you back in the day to go from Portland’s bench and become Indiana’s franchise player? I mean it wasn’t overnight but it was practically overnight.

Yeah, you know Portland was really like college 101 for me. You know 17 year old coming from Columbia, South Carolina. Which is the far south going into the great north west of Portland, Oregon. That’s probably the best place to be coming out of high school as a 17 year old, I don’t really know the works of the professional life. Going to a one pro team city. That city just made me their second child.

That organization was very prepared for a teenager to come in from high school to the pros. And I was able to learn a lot through that process and everybody’s situation is a little bit different, when they get drafted. Wherever they get drafted. But for me Portland was perfect for me and it prepared me for when I got to Indiana to really jump into the scene. Pretty immediately.

Can you see yourself coming back next year to the BIG3? I know it’s a little early.

Yeah, [laughs]. You know I do I do a little bit more with the BIG3 as well. You know me and Chauncey Billups are on the Board of Directors as well. So we have a lot more than just playing on the surface. I think the BIG3 has tremendous legs and as we continue to fine tune this system, I think people are really gonna be proud about this league. I think the leagues will be around for a long time.

Thank you very much!

Thank you!

Be sure to watch the BIG3’s Championship game between Power and 3’s Company from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York airing Friday, Aug. 24 on FOX at 8 p.m. ET. There will be a third place matchup between Tri-State and the 3 Headed Monsters with the Championship game immediately following.

Tickets are still available on Ticketmaster for those local to the area. Ice Cube will give a special performance to fans in the arena at 6:30 p.m. ET prior to the games.