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:
After Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal got into a fight, they quickly made peace. Why? Their mothers told them it was time to bury the hatchet.
Despite their tension on ‘Inside the NBA,’ Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal don’t hate each other. In fact, they’ve never had an “extended argument.”
Shaquille O’Neal has signed a contract extension with TNT and Turner Sports that will greatly increase his presence.
Shareef O’Neal had a frightening experience his first week at LSU, where “my life flashed before my eyes.” And there’s video.
Shaquille O’Neal did a masterful job of hazing a Phoenix Suns first-year teammate but never had to put up with similar antics in his own rookie season.
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal could barely stand each other. This is how they stopped fighting and became friends thanks to Bill Russell.
What happens when you take Shaquille O’Neal and turn him into a virtual fan on an oversized video board? Pure comedy with his antics and his size crushing nearby fans.
Former Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal said a geek once saved his life when he was in high school.
While Shaquille O’Neal has plenty of nicknames, he once created a title just to honor his own greatness. It, however, was based on an inaccurate quote.
While Shaquille O’Neal dished out plenty of assists on the basketball court, he’s also well versed in helping strangers and law enforcement officers.
