Shaquille O Neal: The Big Basketball

In June of 2001, history was made in the basketball community. The Los Angeles Lakers not only won the National Basketball Association (NBA) championship, but they won in historic fashion as it was their third in a row. The man that led this team was none other than one of the most dominant forces to ever step on a basketball court: Shaquille O’Neal. Known as “Shaq” or “The Big Diesel,” O’Neal holds countless records and accolades that have defined his career as one of the greatest to ever play. His name is in conversation with other greats such as Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Karl Malone as one of the most influential and physically dominating players in the history of the NBA. Shaquille O’Neal has not only brought life back to the

O’Neal was projected to be picked in the top three of the 1992 draft class. The Orlando Magic had the first pick in the draft and they have expressed high interest in O’Neal, but nothing had been set in stone. When the commissioner announced the first pick of the draft, it was none other than Shaquille O’Neal from LSU. Coming into the NBA, many articles and magazine have been published regarding O’Neal and his influence on the Magic regarding their fans and identity. O’Neal provided an immediate presence on the basketball court with his qualities. O’Neal’s qualities like “His size, strength, athleticism were unmatched, and his trademark ‘Shaq Attaq’ was a dunk dew players could stop” (“Shaquille O’Neal” Internet). In his rookie season with the Orlando Magic, Shaquille O’Neal earned Rookie of the Year honors with his 23.4 points, 13.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 3.5 blocks per game. Rookie “Shaq” provided performances that have not been seen before in the 45-year history of the NBA. O’Neal went on to play four total seasons with the Orlando Magic and he posted Most Valuable Player (MVP) like numbers that put him into conversations with the other great big-men as one of the best low-post players. He led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals, but his team could not pull out the win. Shaquille O’Neal’s stock was rising higher and he was heading into free agency, the period where a

Even with former Lakers, including “George Mikan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Wilt Chamberlain, O’Neal has commanded the spotlight like few others before him” (“Shaquille O’Neal” Internet). After three straight years of success, the Shaq era was coming to a close in Los Angeles. Due to ongoing disputes between him and teammate Kobe Bryant, “O'Neal demanded a trade and the Lakers sent him to the Miami Heat for three players, Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, and a first-round draft choice” (“Shaquille O’Neal” Internet). Although O’Neal was effective, father time was creeping closer to him. O’Neal endured countless injuries that held his career back in Miami. However, O’Neal was able to capture one last championship in 2006 alongside superstar Dwyane Wade. After playing with the Miami Heat, the ageing O’Neal was traded to the Phoenix Suns. Again, O’Neal was not able to play consistently as he was derailed by constant injuries. Following his short stint in Phoenix, O’Neal played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics in his last two years in the league. Lastly, due to constant injuries and pain, Shaquille O’Neal ended up retiring in 2011 at the age of 39, bringing his legendary career to a