Shaquille O'Neal ain't going to like this ...
Ex-NBA stud Antonio Davis says Shaq and Kobe have NOTHING on Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen when it comes to the best duo in league history ... telling TMZ Sports it's all 'cause of Shaq's defense!
"Shaq can't come out and guard nobody!" Davis says.
The debate's been raging on for YEARS ... and when we got AD out at NBA All-Star weekend in Chicago on Saturday -- he told us there's no need for an argument anymore.
"I don't care what nobody says," Davis tells us. "Hands down. I don't care."
Of course, there's a lot of people in the hoops world that would disagree with Davis ... Shaq and Kobe won 3 titles together and both dudes have legit claims to be considered top 10 players ever.
Then again, Jordan and Scottie won 6 championships together ... and MJ is considered the game's best-ever -- so maybe Antonio's got a point?
By the way, we got Antonio's take on the NBA's G.O.A.T ... and ya gotta hear why he says it's impossible to label just one player with that title.