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:
Shaq’s stepdad made him apologize for an insensitive remark about Yao, leading to the birth of a beautiful friendship.
Before Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal began his NBA journey, his stepdad taught him a valuable life lesson.
Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant reportedly feuded for much of their eight years together with the Los Angeles Lakers. But O’Neal says now it was more marketing ploy than legitimate beef.
Shaquille O’Neal explained why he is so quick to throw his four championship rings into his verbal battles with Charles Barkley on TNT’s “Inside the NBA.”
Can Ben Simmons work it out with the 76ers? Shaquille O’Neal says no.
Shaquille O’Neal recently shared what he believes is LeBron James’ plan to become recognized as the GOAT. Passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s leading scorer might just do the trick.
Shaquille O’Neal has problems meeting women online that go beyond fellow Hall of Fame player and TNT analyst Charles Barkley accusing him of being ugly.
While Shaq may have retired from professional basketball, he isn’t one to back down from an on-court challenge.
Shaquille O’Neal roasts Dennis Schroder after he signed a one-year/$5.9 million deal with the Celtics after rejecting a four-year/$84 million extension with the Lakers.
During his prime, Shaquille O’Neal could terrify even the toughest defender. Just ask Scottie Pippen.
