Shaquille O’Neal was just 10 years of age when his father made a prediction. On the 9th of September 2016, when his son became a Hall of Famer, that prediction came true. O’Neal and Allen Iverson headlined the 2016 NBA hall of fame, other inductees included Yao Ming, Jerry Reinsdorf and Tom Izzo.
After spending three years at LSU, the Orlando Magic drafted Shaq as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 draft. In his rookie season, Shaq averaged 23.4 points, 13.9 rebounds and 3.5 blocks, earning the rookie of the year and an All-Star appearance.
At 7ft 1 and 325 pounds, Shaq was an unstoppable force. With his size and his strength, he overpowered and dominated defenders. But size wasn’t the only thing Shaq had going for him. O’Neal had outstanding passing skills for a man his size. He would throw a bullet like outlet pass or a no-look pass in tight quarters in the paint.
After four seasons with Orlando Magic, O’Neal signed on with the Los Angeles Lakers and teamed up with then rookie Kobe Bryant. At the time O’Neal signed with the Lakers, he had already established himself as one of the game’s elite centers. In eight seasons, Lakers would go on to win NBA championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002, and O’Neal was the Finals MVP each of those occasions.
In July of 2004, the Lakers traded Shaq to the Miami Heat in exchange for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant and a first round pick. When Shaq arrived in Miami, he promised a championship would follow and just as he promised, a championship did come. It took two seasons, but the Heat were crowned NBA champions as Miami Heat came back from an 0-2 deficit to beat the Dallas Mavericks in 6 for the 2006 NBA crown. Dwayne Wade won the Finals MVP honors that year, as Shaq achieved his forth and final championship of his illustrious career. In 2007, Shaq moved on to the Phoenix Suns playing two seasons in Phoenix before moving to the Clevland Cavaliers for one season. The following season would see Shaq move to Boston to play his final season of his career for the Boston Celtic where he would announce his retirement on June 1st, 2011.
A career that spanned 19 seasons, a 15x All-Star, 14x All-NBA , 3x All-Defensive Team, 3x All-Star Game MVP, 3x Finals MVP, 1x MVP and a 4x NBA Champion. You can call Shaquille O’Neil “Big Aristotle”, “The Diesel”, “The Big Shaqtus” or even “The Big Shamrock”. But now you can call him an NBA Hall of Famer.
Personally want to thank Shaq for all the great memories and moments over the 19 seasons. Without a doubt a 1st ballot hall of famer and a true legend of the NBA. Have nothing but admiration and respect for Shaquille O’Neal the man and the player.
Thank you Shaq.
