Shaquille O’Neal
While he’s no longer hitting the hardwood, Shaquille O’Neal still casts a massive shadow over the NBA landscape.
After towering over the NCAA competition at LSU, O’Neal entered into the 1992 NBA Draft and joined the Orlando Magic as the first overall pick. Shaq didn’t miss a beat and quickly emerged as a dominant force in the paint. A championship, however, never materialized, and the big man eventually left for Hollywood.
With the Lakers, O’Neal famously teamed up with Kobe Bryant. While the two men didn’t always see eye-to-eye, they did earn three NBA titles together in Los Angeles. The Diesel then returned to Florida, where he’d win a fourth ring with the Miami Heat, before bouncing around the league and ultimately retiring in 2011.
In addition to his on-court exploits — Shaq still stands tall as one of the greatest big men to ever play the game — the center hasn’t slowed down in retirement. He’s a prolific investor, a celebrity pitchman, and a part of TNT’s NBA coverage.
- Former teams: Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics
- Position: Center
- Accomplishments: Four-time NBA champion, three-time NBA Finals MVP, 1993 Rookie of the Year, 2000 NBA MVP, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016
- Drafted: No. 1 overall in 1992 by the Orlando Magic
- Shooting hand: Right
- Nicknames: Shaq, Diesel, The Big Aristotle
Read the latest about Shaquille O’Neal’s playing career and history:
While Michael Jordan and LeBron James are two world-class players, Shaquille O’Neal would rather team up with Kobe Bryant.
In NBA circles, most GOAT debates will focus on the same few names. If you ask Shaquille O’Neal, though, Dr. J belongs to be near the top of the list.
As a rookie, Shaquille O’Neal received a one-two punch of disrespect from Patrick Ewing and Pat Riley.
While Phil Jackson’s coaching techniques may not seem like the norm in NBA circles, it’s impossible to argue with the Zen Master’s results.
Dennis Rodman was an elite rebounder, but that wasn’t enough for Shaquille O’Neal to consider him a good teammate.
If you take Shaq at his word, Steph Curry is standing alongside some elite company in all-time NBA history.
How many opponents successfully dunked on Shaq? If you take the big man at his word, only three accomplished the feat.
If not for his father and a jarring reality check, Shaquille O’Neal might still be struggling to perform under pressure.
While he might occasionally seem a bit brash and overconfident, Shaquille O’Neal certainly understands his place in NBA history.
While Shaquille O’Neal always possessed plenty of basketball talent, he wouldn’t be the person he is today without Bill Russell.
