Shaquille O’Neal
(Born 1972)
Hall of Fame Induction: 2016
Card Shown:
2014-15 Panini Flawless
Association Autographs
Position: C
Height: 7’1″
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Shaquille O’Neal, who played his college ball at LSU, was one of the most dominant centers to ever play in the NBA. He could overpower everyone he played, and he is known for dunking on many of them, but Shaq was also a skilled ball-handler, passer, and defender. Shaq won four NBA championships, three for the Los Angeles Lakers and one for the Miami Heat.
O’Neal was as big a personality as he was a person. He loved to have fun while he played the game of basketball and this endeared him to basketball fans everywhere.
Awards and Honors
- O’Neal was named College Player of the Year at Louisiana State University (LSU) in 1991. He was also a unanimous first team All-American in both 1991 and 1992.
- Shaq was named the NBA Rookie of the Year after his 1992-93 season with the Orlando Magic.
- He was selected the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2000 while playing with the Los Angeles Lakers.
- O’Neal, playing with Kobe Bryant and coached by Phil Jackson, led the Lakers to three straight NBA championships from 2000-2002. He was named the NBA Finals MVP in each of those three seasons. He later won a fourth championship with Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat in 2006.
- Shaq was an NBA First-Team selection eight times and led the league in scoring in 1994-95 and 1999-00.
Points of Interest
- Shaq was the number one overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, just ahead of fellow future Hall of Fame center, Georgetown’s Alonzo Mourning.
- O’Neal was known for his numerous nicknames, many of which he invented for himself. These included Shaq, Diesel, The Big Aristotle, Shaq Daddy, Big Fella (a favorite of legendary broadcaster Chick Hearn), Shaq Fu, and Superman.
- Although mainly associated with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat (teams where he won championships) O’Neal also played for the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics.
- Shaquille O’Neal was named to the 50th Anniversary All-Time Team by the NBA in 1996.
- Shaq has worked as an NBA television commentator for TNT on Inside the NBA. He often worked with Ernie Johnson and former players Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith to inform and entertain basketball fans around the world.
Statistics
Shaquille O’Neal Statistics
provided by Basketball-Reference.com