Shaquille O'Neal: The Life Story Behind Basketball's Giant

Shaquille O’Neal is the most dominant basketball player in history, and one of the most famous athletes in the world. He is seven feet one inch tall, he weighs more than three hundred pounds, and he was simply unstoppable, in the paint, dunking over defenders, breaking backboards, and winning four NBA championships, three of them, with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he was named Finals MVP, three years in a row. He won the league MVP in 2000, he was named an All-Star, fifteen times, and he is known as Shaq, Diesel, and the Big Aristotle, a giant, in every sense, of the word.

Born on 6 March 1972 in Newark, New Jersey, O’Neal grew up in a military family, his stepfather Phillip Harrison was an Army sergeant, and he played basketball at Robert G. Cole High School, in San Antonio, Texas, and at Louisiana State University, where he was named an All-American, twice, and he was drafted first overall, by the Orlando Magic, in 1992, a moment that started a career, that would make him, one of the greatest centres, in NBA history. This is the story of Shaq.

Newark, New Jersey, and LSU

O’Neal was born in Newark, and he grew up in a military family, moving from base to base, with his mother Lucille, and his stepfather Phillip, an Army sergeant, who taught him discipline, and who made him do a hundred push-ups, every day, a training that built the body, that would become, the most powerful, in basketball history, and Shaq played at Cole High School, in San Antonio, where he led his team, to the state championship, and was named, the best high school player, in the country.

He went to Louisiana State University, where he played three seasons, and he was named an All-American, twice, and the SEC Player of the Year, twice, averaging more than twenty points, and fourteen rebounds a game, in his final season, and he was drafted, first overall, by the Orlando Magic, in 1992, a team that had never, been to the playoffs, and Shaq changed that, immediately, winning the Rookie of the Year award, and leading the Magic, to the Finals, in only his third season, a rapid rise, for a twenty-year-old, from Newark.

When Shaquille O’Neal arrived at Orlando Magic in 1992–1996, he found a club that believed in him, and Shaquille O’Neal repaid that faith with interest, playing with a hunger the fans of Orlando Magic noticed at once, and a quality the coaches at Orlando Magic trusted, in match after match, as Shaquille O’Neal grew into a player the team could build around. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 1993, and led the Magic to the NBA Finals in 1995. It was at Orlando Magic that Shaquille O’Neal became the player the world would come to know, and Orlando Magic played its part, in making him.

The Rise: Orlando, Rookie of the Year, and the Finals

O’Neal’s rise came in Orlando, where he was named Rookie of the Year in 1993, averaging twenty-three points, and fourteen rebounds a game, and he became, the most exciting young player, in the league, a giant, who could run, jump, and dunk, like no centre, before him, and he led the Magic, to the NBA Finals, in 1995, in only his third season, losing to Houston, in a sweep, a defeat that hurt, but one that showed, he was ready, to win, a championship, and that it was, only a matter, of time.

The rise became a superstardom, in 1996, when he joined the Los Angeles Lakers, as a free agent, in the biggest signing, in NBA history, at the time, and he formed a partnership, with a young Kobe Bryant, a duo, that would become, one of the greatest, in basketball history, and Shaq became, the most dominant player, in the league, a centre, who could not be guarded, by one man, and who needed, two or three, to stop him, and even then, he scored, at will.

The years at LA Lakers, from 1996–2004, were the making of Shaquille O’Neal, because he learned to win there, to handle pressure there, and to deliver when the team needed him most, and those lessons stayed with Shaquille O’Neal for the rest of his career, in every club, and every country, where he played afterwards. He won three championships in a row, from 2000 to 2002, and was named Finals MVP all three times. The time at LA Lakers shaped Shaquille O’Neal as a player, and as a person, and it is a period Shaquille O’Neal still looks back on, with pride, and with gratitude.

Shaquille O’Neal made Miami Heat his home in 2004–2008, and the supporters took him to their hearts, because Shaquille O’Neal played with a passion that was obvious, and a skill that was undeniable, and he became one of their own, a player they still talk about, in USA and everywhere, when they remember the best teams, and the best days, that Miami Heat has ever known. He won a fourth championship in 2006, beating Dallas in the Finals. Those years at Miami Heat remain a proud chapter in the story of Shaquille O’Neal, and in the history of Miami Heat itself.

The Peak: Three Titles, Three Finals MVPs, and the Diesel

O’Neal’s peak came from 2000 to 2002, when he won three NBA championships in a row, with the Los Angeles Lakers, beating Indiana, Philadelphia, and New Jersey, in the Finals, and he was named Finals MVP, all three times, a feat that had not been achieved, since Michael Jordan, and one that made him, the most dominant player, in the world, because he averaged, more than thirty points, and thirteen rebounds a game, in those Finals, numbers, that no one, could match.

He won the league MVP award in 2000, in a season, in which he averaged, almost thirty points, and fourteen rebounds a game, and he missed the unanimous vote, by one ballot, a single voter, choosing Allen Iverson, instead, a fact that Shaq, has never forgotten, and one that he still talks about, today, because he believes, he should have been, the unanimous MVP, and most people, in basketball, agree with him, because he was, simply, the best player, in the league, that year.

He won a fourth championship in 2006, with the Miami Heat, beating Dallas, in the Finals, a triumph that made him, a champion, with two teams, and one that proved, he could win, without Kobe, and without Phil Jackson, and he was inducted, into the Basketball Hall of Fame, in 2016, a tribute, to a career, that included, four titles, three Finals MVPs, one league MVP, and more than twenty-eight thousand points, scored, in nineteen seasons, in the NBA.

At the NBA Finals in 2000, Shaquille O’Neal proved, once again, that he was a player for the big occasion, delivering when the pressure was highest, and the stakes were greatest, in front of millions, around the world. He was named Finals MVP, averaging 38 points and 16 rebounds a game, as the Lakers beat Indiana. The NBA Finals of 2000 added another chapter to the story of Shaquille O’Neal, and it is one that his fans, will never forget.

The NBA Finals of 2001 remains a vivid memory for the fans of Shaquille O’Neal, because it was a tournament where Shaquille O’Neal played with a freedom, a bravery, and a skill, that made everyone take notice, of what he could do. He was named Finals MVP, as the Lakers beat Philadelphia, in five games. That tournament is still talked about, when fans remember the best of Shaquille O’Neal, and the best of his sport.

Year after year, the story was the same, because Shaquille O’Neal was there, at the top, competing, winning, and leading, and that longevity is what separates the great from the good, in USA and everywhere, because anyone can have one great season, but only the best, can have ten, and Shaquille O’Neal had them, in USA and around the world.

Basketball is a game of speed, skill, and intelligence, and Shaquille O’Neal knows that pressure, because he played it at the highest level, in arenas, that hold twenty thousand people, and in matches, watched by millions, in USA and everywhere, and that pressure is something, that only the best, can handle, and Shaquille O’Neal handled it, for years, in USA and around the world.

USA: Olympic Gold and the Dream Team

For the United States, O’Neal is an Olympic champion, winning the gold medal at Atlanta 1996, with a team that featured Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and Karl Malone, a triumph that made him a hero, at home, and a star, around the world, and he was one of the best players, on that team, a centre, who dominated, the paint, against every country, in the world, and who showed, that American basketball, was still, the best, on the planet.

He has also played for the USA at the World Championship, winning gold in 1994, in Canada, a tournament where he was named, the MVP, and he is a player who takes pride, in representing his country, and who is respected, in America, and around the world, because he is one of the greatest centres, ever to play, for the United States, a nation, that has produced, the greatest basketball players, in history.

Shaquille O’Neal went into the NBA Finals in 2002 with expectation on his shoulders, and Shaquille O’Neal carried it, with a calm that impressed everyone, and a quality that decided matches, when they mattered most. He was named Finals MVP, as the Lakers swept New Jersey, winning a third title in a row. It was a performance that Shaquille O’Neal earned, and one that showed the world, exactly what Shaquille O’Neal could do.

The NBA Finals in 2006 was one of the defining tournaments of the career of Shaquille O’Neal, because the whole world was watching, and Shaquille O’Neal showed, that he could perform, on the biggest stage, against the best, in his sport. He won his fourth championship, as Miami beat Dallas, in six games. The NBA Finals of 2006 added another chapter to the story of Shaquille O’Neal, and it is one that his fans, will never forget.

At the Olympic Games in 1996, Shaquille O’Neal proved, once again, that he was a player for the big occasion, delivering when the pressure was highest, and the stakes were greatest, in front of millions, around the world. He won gold with the United States in Atlanta, dominating the paint against every opponent. That tournament is still talked about, when fans remember the best of Shaquille O’Neal, and the best of his sport.

Power, the Dunk, and the Art of the Giant

O’Neal’s game was built on power. He was seven feet one, and more than three hundred pounds, and he used that size, to dominate, the paint, dunking over defenders, and scoring, at will, from close range, and he was so strong, that teams, had to foul him, to stop him, a strategy, known as Hack-a-Shaq, because he was a poor free-throw shooter, and opponents, would rather, send him to the line, than let him dunk, a tactic, that defined, his career, and one that he handled, with humour, and with grace.

What made him special was his athleticism, and his personality. He could run the floor, like a guard, he could pass, like a forward, and he could block shots, like a centre, a complete player, despite his size, and he was also, one of the funniest, and most charismatic, athletes, in the world, a man who made movies, made music, and made people laugh, and who is now, one of the most popular, television analysts, in basketball, a giant, on the court, and off it.

In 2000, Shaquille O’Neal won the NBA championship as a champion with the LA Lakers, beating Indiana in the Finals, and being named Finals MVP. The NBA championship in 2000 was a triumph that Shaquille O’Neal will never forget, because it came after years of work, and it proved that Shaquille O’Neal belonged, among the best, in his sport, and the medal, the trophy, and the memory, remain among the proudest, of his whole career. That NBA championship remains a landmark in the story of Shaquille O’Neal, and in the history of USA sport.

In 2001, Shaquille O’Neal won the NBA championship as a champion with the LA Lakers, beating Philadelphia in the Finals, and being named Finals MVP. When Shaquille O’Neal won the NBA championship in 2001, it was the reward for everything he had given to the game, the training, the sacrifice, and the belief, and it showed the world, in USA and everywhere, that Shaquille O’Neal was not just a talented player, but a winner, who could deliver, when it mattered most. It was a win that Shaquille O’Neal earned, and one that no one can ever take away from Shaquille O’Neal.

In 2002, Shaquille O’Neal won the NBA championship as a champion with the LA Lakers, beating New Jersey in the Finals, and being named Finals MVP. The NBA championship of 2002 stands out in the career of Shaquille O’Neal, because it was won against the best, in the biggest arena, and it took everything Shaquille O’Neal had, to win it, and the victory made him a hero, at home, and a star, around the world. The NBA championship of 2002 is the kind of triumph that defines a career, and Shaquille O’Neal earned it, with years of work, and a performance, that will be remembered.

The Free Throws, the Feud, and the Farewell

O’Neal’s career had real frustrations. He was a poor free-throw shooter, making barely half, of his attempts, and opponents, exploited that, with the Hack-a-Shaq strategy, fouling him, intentionally, to send him to the line, a tactic that cost him, points, and games, and one that he never, fully solved, despite working, on his shot, for years, a weakness, that was, the one flaw, in an otherwise, perfect, basketball player.

There was also the feud with Kobe Bryant, his teammate, in Los Angeles, a clash of egos, that broke up, the greatest duo, in basketball, after three titles, and one that Shaq, has spoken about, openly, saying that they were both, too proud, and too stubborn, to make it work, a regret, that he carries, to this day, because they could have won, more titles, together, if they had stayed, together, and that is the one, what-if, of his career.

The numbers tell their own story, for Shaquille O’Neal. He was named Finals MVP three years in a row, from 2000 to 2002, a feat only Michael Jordan had achieved before him. He won the league MVP award in 2000, missing the unanimous vote by one ballot, with a single voter choosing Allen Iverson. He scored more than 28,000 points in his NBA career, in nineteen seasons, from 1992 to 2011. He won four NBA championships with two teams, the LA Lakers and the Miami Heat. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, and he was named an All-Star fifteen times.

The record book tells the story of Shaquille O’Neal better than any speech could, because every number in it was earned, in competition, under pressure, and against opponents, who were trying, just as hard, to stop Shaquille O’Neal, and that is why the numbers, will last.

The Most Dominant Ever, and a Giant of the Game

O’Neal is widely regarded as the most dominant basketball player in history, and he is one of the greatest centres, ever to play the game. He won four NBA championships, three Finals MVP awards, and one league MVP, and he scored more than twenty-eight thousand points, in nineteen seasons, and he did it, with a power, a personality, and a presence, that no one else, has ever had, in the history, of the sport.

His legacy is also about entertainment, because Shaq made basketball fun, with his dunks, his humour, and his charisma, and he is now, one of the most popular, figures in sport, as a television analyst, a businessman, and a philanthropist, a giant, who gives back, to the community, and who inspires, a generation of young players, to dream big, and to be themselves, on and off the court.

In 2006, Shaquille O’Neal won the NBA championship as a champion with the Miami Heat, beating Dallas in the Finals, winning his fourth title. Shaquille O’Neal still talks about the NBA championship in 2006 as one of the great days of his life, because the whole team, the whole country, and the whole sport, were watching, and Shaquille O’Neal delivered, with a performance that was calm, brave, and brilliant, when the pressure was greatest. That NBA championship remains a landmark in the story of Shaquille O’Neal, and in the history of USA sport.

In 2000, Shaquille O’Neal won the NBA Most Valuable Player as the best player in the league, averaging almost 30 points and 14 rebounds a game. Winning the NBA Most Valuable Player in 2000 changed the career of Shaquille O’Neal, because it turned promise into proof, and talent into titles, and it gave Shaquille O’Neal the confidence, to believe that he could win, again, and again, at the highest level, of his sport. It was a win that Shaquille O’Neal earned, and one that no one can ever take away from Shaquille O’Neal.

In 2000, Shaquille O’Neal won the NBA Finals MVP as the best player in the Finals, averaging 38 points and 16 rebounds a game against Indiana. The NBA Finals MVP in 2000 was a triumph that Shaquille O’Neal will never forget, because it came after years of work, and it proved that Shaquille O’Neal belonged, among the best, in his sport, and the medal, the trophy, and the memory, remain among the proudest, of his whole career. The NBA Finals MVP of 2000 is the kind of triumph that defines a career, and Shaquille O’Neal earned it, with years of work, and a performance, that will be remembered.

Beyond the headline triumphs, there were more, because Shaquille O’Neal also won the NBA Finals MVP in 2000; the NBA Finals MVP in 2001; the NBA Finals MVP in 2002, honours that are easy to overlook, beside the biggest titles, but ones that show the depth, and the consistency, of the career of Shaquille O’Neal, year after year, tournament after tournament, at the highest level.

Count the honours, and the scale of the career of Shaquille O’Neal becomes clear, because the list runs to 8 major titles, medals, and awards, each one earned, in competition, against the best, in USA and the world, and each one a chapter, in a story, that few players, in any sport, can match, for length, for quality, and for consistency, over so many years, and among them, the NBA championship in 2000 stands tall, for Shaquille O’Neal and for USA.

The journey of Shaquille O’Neal took him from Orlando Magic to Boston Celtics, with stops at LA Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, along the way, and each stop taught Shaquille O’Neal something new, about the game, about himself, and about winning, at the highest level, in USA and around the world, a journey that made him the player, and the person, he is today.

My Take:

I have thought a lot about what Shaquille O’Neal means, to his sport, and to his country, and this is what I believe.

What I admire most about O’Neal is the dominance, because no one in NBA history has ever been as unstoppable as Shaq, in the paint, dunking over defenders, and scoring at will, and he won three Finals MVP awards, in a row, a feat that only Jordan had achieved. When I look at young centres who want to dominate, I tell them to watch Shaq, because dominance is not about finesse, it is about power, and he had more power, than anyone, in the history of the game.

The 2000 Finals is the moment that defines him, because he averaged thirty-eight points and sixteen rebounds a game, as the Lakers beat Indiana, winning his first championship, and being named Finals MVP, a performance that was one of the most dominant, in Finals history. That is not just numbers, it is history, and it is the performance that will be remembered when his career is over, as the series where Shaq became, the most dominant player, in the world.

I also think O’Neal is underrated as a passer, because people remember the dunks, but they forget that he could pass out of double teams, and find open teammates, and that he was a smart player, who understood the game, and who made his teammates better, every time he was on the floor. He was complete, as a centre, and that is why he won four titles, and why he is one of the greatest, ever to play the game.

If I have a criticism, it is only the free throws, because he made barely half of them, and opponents exploited that, with the Hack-a-Shaq strategy, fouling him intentionally, a weakness that cost him points, and games, and one that he never fully solved. But the four titles are his, and the three Finals MVPs are his, and those are achievements that will last forever, and that is why he is a legend, and why the basketball world, will remember him, as the most dominant, ever.

Take the 2000 Finals, and look at it closely, because O’Neal averaged 38 points and 16 rebounds a game, as the Lakers beat Indiana, winning his first championship, and being named Finals MVP, a performance that was one of the most dominant, in Finals history. That is not luck, it is preparation, meeting opportunity, and Shaquille O’Neal was prepared, because he had done the work, for years, before that moment, ever arrived.

I will never forget the three-peat in 2002, because O’Neal won his third championship in a row, with the Lakers, sweeping New Jersey, and being named Finals MVP for a third year in a row, a feat that made him, one of the greatest centres, ever. Moments like that are why sport matters, and why Shaquille O’Neal will be remembered, long after the final whistle, of his final match, has blown.

When I think about the 2006 title in Miami, I think about what it teaches, because O’Neal won his fourth championship, with the Heat, beating Dallas, a triumph that proved he could win, without Kobe, and without Phil Jackson, and one that made him, a champion, with two teams. And that is the lesson, that talent opens the door, but character walks through it, and Shaquille O’Neal walked through it, again and again, in his career.

The moment I keep coming back to is the Hall of Fame in 2016, because O’Neal was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, a tribute to a career that included four titles, three Finals MVPs, and more than 28,000 points, and one that made him, a legend, forever. It is the kind of moment that stays with you, long after the match is over, and it is why Shaquille O’Neal matters, not just as a player, but as an example, for anyone, who wants to be great.

The numbers say it plainly, because He was named Finals MVP three years in a row, from 2000 to 2002, a feat only Michael Jordan had achieved before him. And numbers do not lie, they do not flatter, and they do not forget, and that is why the record of Shaquille O’Neal will stand, for years, to come.

One record, more than any other, sums up Shaquille O’Neal, because He won the league MVP award in 2000, missing the unanimous vote by one ballot, with a single voter choosing Allen Iverson. It is the kind of achievement that takes a whole career, to earn, and a whole lifetime, to appreciate, and Shaquille O’Neal earned it, the hard way.

Look at the record, and look at what it means, because He scored more than 28,000 points in his NBA career, in nineteen seasons, from 1992 to 2011. That is not a number on a page, it is a career, in miniature, and it is why Shaquille O’Neal belongs, among the greats, of his sport.

The numbers say it plainly, because He won four NBA championships with two teams, the LA Lakers and the Miami Heat. And numbers do not lie, they do not flatter, and they do not forget, and that is why the record of Shaquille O’Neal will stand, for years, to come.

The lesson of Shaquille O’Neal is a lesson for every young basketball player in USA, because he proved that work, talent, and belief, win championships, and that a boy, from anywhere, can become a champion, if he is willing, to do the work, that others will not do, and to keep going, when others stop.

The fans of Shaquille O’Neal will tell you, that he was more than a player, because he gave them memories, that they will carry, for the rest of their lives, and that is the true measure, of a basketball player, not the rings, but the joy, he gave, to the people, who watched him play.

If you want to understand Shaquille O’Neal, start with the numbers, because he won 8 major honours, he played for 6 clubs or teams, and he set 5 records, that are listed, in his story, and those numbers were not given to him, they were earned, in competition, against the best, in the world, over many years, and that is why they matter, because they are the proof, of a career, that was built, on work, on talent, and on a refusal, to accept, anything less, than the best.

The future is still open for Shaquille O’Neal, because his story is not finished, and the next chapter, whatever it holds, will be watched, by millions, in USA and around the world, who want to see, what he does next, and whether he can add, to a career, that is already, one of the greats, of his sport, and that is the mark, of a true star, that people care, about what happens next, long after, the biggest triumphs, are already, in the past.

There is something about the way Shaquille O’Neal handled defeat, that tells you, more about him, than any victory ever could, because he lost, he learned, and he came back, stronger, and he did not blame anyone, he did not make excuses, and he did not quit, and that is why, his teammates trusted him, and his opponents respected him, at Boston Celtics and everywhere, he played.

The numbers tell one story, about Shaquille O’Neal, but the eyes tell another, because anyone who watched him play, could see, that he loved the game, that he played, with joy, and with freedom, and that love, is what carried him, through the hard days, and the injuries, and the defeats, and it is why, he lasted, as long as he did, at the very top.

I often wonder, what Shaquille O’Neal would say, to a young player, starting out today, in USA, and I think he would say, work hard, believe in yourself, and never stop learning, because that is what he did, from his first day, to his last, and it is the simplest advice, and the hardest, to follow, and it is the reason, he became, one of the best, in the world.

The NBA championship in 2000 was not the end, of the story of Shaquille O’Neal, it was the beginning, of the next chapter, because after that triumph, he was no longer, a hopeful, he was a champion, and champions are judged, differently, and he knew it, and he rose, to that judgement, again and again, in USA and around the world, for the rest, of his career.

What I respect, about Shaquille O’Neal, is that he never took the easy road, because he could have stayed, where he was comfortable, and he chose, to test himself, against the best, in the biggest matches, and that choice, is what separates, the good from the great, and it is why, his name, is remembered, by fans, in every country, where his sport, is played.

When the history of USA sport is written, the name of Shaquille O’Neal will be, in the first chapter, because he changed, what people believed, was possible, and he showed, a whole generation, that a boy from their streets, could become, a champion of the world, and that belief, is worth, more than any trophy, in any cabinet.

I have no doubt, that Shaquille O’Neal will be remembered, not just for the NBA championship in 2000, but for the way, he carried himself, on and off the field, because he was humble, in victory, and gracious, in defeat, and he treated people, with respect, and that is the kind of greatness, that lasts, long after, the last match, has been played.

The best thing, about watching Shaquille O’Neal, was that you never knew, what he would do next, because he could surprise you, in any moment, with a piece of skill, that no one expected, and that unpredictability, is what made him, so exciting, to watch, and so hard, to play against, and it is why, fans in USA, still talk about him, today.

I have watched Shaquille O’Neal for years, and the thing that strikes me, every time, is the intelligence, because he reads the game, two moves ahead, and he is already, where the ball will be, before anyone else, has even moved, and that anticipation is not luck, it is study, and it is why Shaquille O’Neal was so hard, to play against, in USA and around the world, for so many years.

If I could tell a young player one thing, about Shaquille O’Neal, it would be this, watch how he trains, because the matches are the reward, but the training is the work, and Shaquille O’Neal trained, like every session mattered, like every drill, was a final, and that attitude is the reason, that he lasted, at the top, for so long, and won, the NBA championship in 2000, and so much more, besides.

People talk about the talent of Shaquille O’Neal, and they are right to, because the talent was obvious, from the first time, anyone saw him play, but talent is only the start, and what made Shaquille O’Neal great, was the work, that came after, the hours, the repetition, and the refusal, to be satisfied, with being good, when he could be, the best, in the world.

There is a moment, in every great career, when the player realises, that he belongs, and for Shaquille O’Neal, that moment changed everything, because from then on, he did not hope, to win, he expected to, and that expectation, carried him, through the hardest matches, of his career, in USA and around the world, and it is why, he won, again and again.

I think the most underrated part of Shaquille O’Neal is his character, because he handled success, without arrogance, and defeat, without excuses, and that balance is rare, in a world, that rewards noise, and Shaquille O’Neal was quiet, in victory, and gracious, in defeat, and that is why, he is respected, by everyone, who played, with him, or against him, at Boston Celtics.

The fans in USA love Shaquille O’Neal, and it is easy to see why, because he gave them, something to believe in, and he never, let them down, and when he played, the whole country, stopped, to watch, and that connection, between a player, and his people, is the most powerful thing, in sport, and Shaquille O’Neal had it, in full, for his whole career.

What I would say to anyone, who doubts Shaquille O’Neal, is simple, look at the record, because the NBA championship in 2000 is there, and the other honours, are there, and they were not given, they were earned, in the hardest, arenas, in the world, against the best, opponents, in the world, and that is the answer, to every doubt, that anyone, could ever raise.

In the end, the story of Shaquille O’Neal is a story about a boy from USA, who worked, who believed, and who became, one of the best, in the world, and that story will be told, for generations, by fans, who saw him play, and by young players, who want, to follow him.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Shaquille O’Neal born?

Shaquille O’Neal was born on 6 March 1972 in Newark, New Jersey. He grew up in a military family, played at Cole High School in San Antonio and Louisiana State University, and was drafted first overall by Orlando in 1992.

How many championships did Shaquille O’Neal win?

O’Neal won four NBA championships: three in a row with the LA Lakers, from 2000 to 2002, and one with the Miami Heat, in 2006. He was named Finals MVP in all three Lakers titles.

Did Shaquille O’Neal win the MVP award?

Yes, O’Neal won the NBA Most Valuable Player award in 2000, averaging almost 30 points and 14 rebounds a game. He missed the unanimous vote by one ballot, with a single voter choosing Allen Iverson.

How many points did Shaquille O’Neal score in his career?

O’Neal scored more than 28,000 points in his NBA career, in nineteen seasons, from 1992 to 2011. He was named an All-Star fifteen times, and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

Is Shaquille O’Neal in the Hall of Fame?

Yes, O’Neal was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. He is now one of the most popular television analysts in basketball, as well as a businessman and philanthropist.