A Shaqtastic Career Concludes | Thebigtip

One of the All-Time great personalities of Sport called it quits this week, when the larger than life Shaquille O’Neal tweeted to his 3.8 million fans that he was about to retire.  In a career spanning nineteen seasons, including four Championship rings, one MVP and three Finals MVP’s, where will Shaq rank in NBA history?

There were two different Shaquille O’Neal’s in the NBA, bound by the same boyish and humorous personality throughout.  The first Shaq was the raw, athletic and thunderous version, seen in Orlando and Los Angeles.  This Shaq was unstoppable, unplayable and to a basketball fan, a form of entertainment that was un-missable!  In Orlando he ripped down backboards with massive dunks.  In LA he won Championships.  He was the most marketable star the NBA had, taking over from Michael Jordan.  Then came the second Shaquille O’Neal.

After a messy breakup with the LA Lakers, and Kobe Bryant, Shaq moved to the Miami Heat.  O’Neal was now in his thirties, and no longer the athlete he was in Orlando and Los Angeles.  Kobe Bryant had not only kept his spot on the Lakers roster, he was now the most marketable star in the NBA, along with Shaq.  O’Neal’s time in Miami was a success, ultimately leading to an inaugural Championship for the Heat.  On top of that, Kobe and the Lakers were struggling.  Shaq’s ego would have peaked right there and then!  Unfortunately it was to be all downhill from there,

After the Miami Championship, Shaq declined quickly.  The next season he battled injuries, and as the Heat struggled on court, so did his relationship with Pat Riley.  He was traded to the Phoenix Suns, where he fought a mini-revival of his season.  In Phoenix he got back into top shape, with the Suns medical team and fitness trainers working miracles on an aging big man.  His second season in Phoenix was a success, as he posted improved numbers and was again an un-stoppable force.  His best game would be a 45 point effort, not bad for a 37 year old!  The Sun season ended early however, and he was shipped off again, this time to Cleveland.

There were big things expected with the Cavaliers, as Shaq teamed with LeBron James.  Shaq had again lost the conditioning that he had worked so hard for in Phoenix, and although serviceable for Cleveland, was hardly a match winner.  He again missed games with injury, and as the Cavs crashed out of the playoffs, and LeBron vacated the city, so too did O’Neal.

Last off-season was a sad sight, for such an accomplished Basketball player.  It took Shaq months to find a team willing to take him on.  Atlanta were interested, but got cold feet.  Dallas inquired, as did Boston.  Shaq had become more of a marketing tool than a valued player, but none the less, he was a big body with plenty of winning experience.  The Celtics took a punt, as he joined his sixth and last NBA franchise.  The now 39 year old struggled in Boston, only playing 37 games as age caught up with his body.  He had some good games for Boston, one of the more prestigious franchises in the NBA.  Shaq had been dodging retirement for too long however, and it finally found him, pinned him down, and told him to tweet it to his fans!

Shaquille O’Neal will always be remembered as a great personality of not only the NBA, but sport in general.  People who know nothing about basketball, have often still heard of Shaquille O’Neal.  He transcended basketball to be a giant of the sport…literally!  He tried his best to win another title in his last few years, but in the end he became a hire-a-veteran player, and that is a shame.  One can only wonder how much greater he would have been, if he stayed in Los Angeles all these years?  Would he have more titles?  Would his legacy be greater?  I guess we will never know, but I enjoyed the ride regardless.