Despite O'Neal's injuries, the Magic finished with a regular season record of 6022, second in the Eastern conference to the Chicago Bulls, who finished with an NBA record 72 wins. O'Neal's streak of 14 straight All-Star appearances ended that season. I needed to learn the secrets". "[240] On August 28, 2010, in an interview at UFC 118 in Boston, O'Neal reiterated his desire to fight Choi. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok. Before 2010, he was the last active American player to have a gold from the FIBA World Cup. [195] O'Neal told a reporter for ABC News that he plans to further his education by attending law school. O'Neal was the third-ranked player all-time in free throws taken,[147] having attempted 11,252 free-throws in 1,207 games up to and including the 201011 season. The 200809 season improved for O'Neal, who averaged 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks through the first half (41 games) of the season, leading the Suns to a 2318 record and 2nd place in their division. He's always interested in being a scorer, but he hasn't had nearly enough concentration on defense and rebounding". He voiced animated versions of himself on several occasions, including in the animated series Static Shock (2002; episode "Static Shaq"), in Johnny Bravo (1997; episode "Back on Shaq"), in Uncle Grandpa (2014; episode "Perfect Kid"), and in The Lego Movie (2014). Wilt Chamberneezy NBA on TNT @NBAonTNT "300 pounds of greatness" . (NBA always compared Shaq and Wilt Chamberlain for their physical power that altered the game rulebooks. In the summer of 2005, when asked about Bryant, he responded, "I'm sorry, who?" It's a shame that the referees buy into that", O'Neal said. "[235][236][237], In October 2022, O'Neal signed a long-term contract extension with Warner Bros. [299] Both Robin Wright in her book Rock the Casbah as well as the Los Angeles Times have identified O'Neal as a Muslim. Plus, it was the nickname of choice for legendary announcer Chick Hearn. But I cant help but find it quite boring as a nickname. The Prophecy 21. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! Yes, this nickname as well"Shaq Diesel"has its roots in 1990s hip-hop "slanguage." That's hip-hop, not hip-"Hoopz." Boop, boop, bee doop. Kobe Jolly Green Bryant 16. After he made a steal and got a breakaway dunk to force overtime in a game his Lakers would go on to win, Shaq said he was a great thief, The Big Felon. Izzo LeBron James was in his first stint with the Cavs and had only made one appearance in the NBA Finals at that point. Now that Shaq is with the Cavaliers, here are a few nicknames that could be possible for Shaq to either be dubbed with or dub himself with soon: The Remake on the Lake The Cleveland Steamer. 9", "SLAM 500 Greatest NBA Players of All Time | Basketball-Reference.com", "NBA All-Time Player Rankings: Top 10 Centers", "Shaquille O'Neal traded to Cleveland Cavaliers for 3 players, cash", "Void filled: 15-time All-Star Shaquille O'Neal to Celtics", "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Announcement presented by Haggar Clothing Company", "Dream Team, Shaq and Kukoc headline 2017 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame Inductees", "How Shaq Became The Biggest DJ On The Planet", "Kings Guard Gaming Names Shaquille O'Neal First General Manager", "Shaq to biological father: 'I don't hate you', "Shaq Sets Bar High for Young Lives, BIG Stories Campaign", "Key Moments In Shaquille O'neal History", "Shaquille Shows Class In Switching To No. [335] He participated in a virtual rally for then-presidential candidate Joe Biden and voted for the first time during the 2020 presidential election. Shaquille O' Neal has arguably been the best media personality in the entire NBA for around a decade now. However, it was the first season in O'Neal's career that his scoring average dropped below 20points per game. After being named NBA MVP in 2000, ONeal decided to celebrate by unveiling his latest nickname. At the same time, I cant minimize terrorism and dont want to joke too much about such a sensitive subject. . Shaquille O'Neal, who recently signed with the Boston Celtics, appealed to his new fans for a new nickname. O'Neal had a natural talent for rapping and signed with Jive Records and, in 1993, released his debut album, Shaq Diesel. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. Total games played: 1207 (44th) O'Neal played in the NBA from 1992 until 2011, marking one of the longest and most storied careers in league history. What he did off the court for NBA players was show them how to think outside of the low blocks. "[75] Many critics stated that Heat coach Riley correctly managed O'Neal during the rest of the season, limiting his minutes to a career low. Gone are the unforgettable days of Shaq performing with the hip-hop groupthe Fu Schnickenson the Arsenio Hall Show, but don't be surprised if Shaqrocks a breakdance move on the next round of Dancing with the Stars. ONeal played in Phoenix from 2007-2009, his sixteenth and seventeenth years in the league. O'Neal holds the county record of Tallest Sheriff's Deputy. How many sacks does Shaq Lawson have? On October 23, 2021, O'Neal performed his first ever set as DJ DIESEL on the bassPOD stage at the 2021 Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas, Nevada. But when I play him (on defense), it's just going to be me down there. Galactus is a Marvel comic book character who appeared in the Fantastic Four series and some Avenger stuff. Shaq says Yao comments were said in jest", "Shaq: 'I've been playing like Erick Dampier', An A-to-Z remembrance of Shaq's careerbasketball and (mostly) otherwise, "Shaq Attacks Kobe: You Ruined My Marriage", "Snoop Dogg, Nas, Cory Gunz See Nothing Wrong With Shaquille O'Neal's Anti-Kobe Freestyle", "Shaq booted from sheriff's 'posse' for Kobe rap", "Shaquille O'Neal Presents His Superfriends, Vol. Knowing this, you'd think O'Neal would be a lock as a top 10 all-time player . [87] During a practice in February 2008, O'Neal got into an altercation with Riley over the coach ordering a tardy Jason Williams to leave practice. Talk to you soon." The Boston Pops perform a holiday concert every winter. After leaving early to enter the draft, Shaq boogied back to LSU and graduatedcalling himself "The Big Aristotle." In reference to his completion of his MBA degree, he stated: "It's just something to have on my resume for when I go back into reality. ", "Daily Dime: Shaq gets the spotlight, while Kobe gets the game", "Riley bothered by Shaq's criticism of Heat players, staff", "Magic's Van Gundy calls out Shaq for flopping", "Cavaliers Acquire 15-Time NBA All-Star and Four-Time NBA Champion Shaquille ONeal", Cleveland Cavaliers' Shaquille O'Neal leaves game with 'significant thumb injury, "Shaquille O'Neal: Cavaliers should have won title in 2010", "Grousbeck's faith goes right down to the core", "A large addition to Celtics' sizeable history", "Celtics Creak Toward Postseason, Hoping They Have Legs for a Run", "Shaq says he's 85 percent; out another week", "Amare Stoudemire back as Celts' reserves top Knicks' second string", "Shaq announces NBA retirement on Twitter, using Tout iPhone app [Updated]", "Shaq moving on to the next chapterretirement", O'Neal, Bryant Still Possible for Olympics, Colangelo says Shaq not ruling out Olympics, Full Summer Gives U.s. Players More Than A Workout, "New This Year In Nba: Shaq-proof Backboards", "Career Leaders and Records for Field Goal Pct", "Phoenix Suns vs. San Antonio Spurs Recap April 29, 2008", "Career Leaders and Records for Free Throw Attempts ", "Mason's 3-pointer gives Spurs 9190 win over Suns", "5 Things Dwight Howard Does Better Than Shaquille O'Neal Ever Did With The LA Lakers", "Shaquille O'Neal's retirement brings reflections on his legacy with the Lakers", "Lakers retire Shaquille O'Neal's jersey", "Shaq and 31 more athletes with numbers retired by multiple teams", "Shaq Now Among Small Group Of Athletes Whose Numbers Have Been Retired By Multiple Teams", "Inside the NBA SI's Jack McCallum: Sizing up Shaq", "Shaquille O'Neal was not always the most dominating, but always the most fun", "Sports of The Times; Fans in Shanghai Are Voting in the Mainstream", "Tall tale? He punched center Brad Miller after an intentional foul to prevent a basket, resulting in a melee with Miller, forward Charles Oakley, and several other players. His trademark mobility and explosion had been often absent. O'Neal was named MVP of the NBA Finals all three times and had the highest scoring average for a center in NBA Finals history.[62]. The Lakers finished the season 6121, first in the Pacific Division, and were the second seed in the western conference during the 1998 NBA Playoffs. [289], In August 2010, O'Neal was sued by his personal IT technician, Shawn Darling, after O'Neal had allegedly attempted to plant child pornography on Darling's computer. At first I was going to rank this nickname lower. After beating Reggie Miller's Indiana Pacers, the Magic reached the NBA Finals, facing the defending NBA champion Houston Rockets. Its not my thing. [90] O'Neal made his Suns debut on February 20, 2008, against his former Lakers team, scoring 15 points and grabbing 9 rebounds in the process. Riley felt O'Neal was wrong for maligning his former teammates. Nineteen years, baby. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. What is Shaq Lawson's Twitter account? Choi replied to an email asking him if he would like to fight O'Neal saying "Yes, if there is a chance." [31] The Magic finished 4141, winning 20 more games than the previous season, but missed the playoffs by virtue of a tie-breaker with the Indiana Pacers. In addition, O'Neal frequently used a right-handed jump hook shot to score near the basket. [85] It was the first time in 13 years that O'Neal did not advance into the second round. more information Accept. [114] The Atlanta Hawks and the Dallas Mavericks also expressed interest but had stalled on O'Neal's salary demands. [253][254] After weeks of discussion, the match was cancelled. 9. He averaged 26.6 points and 11 rebounds per game, made the All-NBA 3rd Team, and played in his 4th All-Star Game. Below I have ranked all 34 from best to worst. O'Neal appeared as himself on an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, bedridden after Larry David's character accidentally tripped him while stretching, and in two episodes each of My Wife and Kids and The Parkers. Below are some tips to choose a good nickname. It is important to understand the context behind the occasion, what nickname Shaq was given, and how . This version of the Big X comes from Shaqs single season in Boston. O'Neal's imposing physical presence inside the paint caused dramatic changes in many teams' offensive and defensive strategies. access_time23 junio, 2022. person. Catch meon the next edition of Lake's ShaqReport, better known asThe Cake Report. Grade: PSA 9. [143] He led the NBA in field goal percentage 10 times, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record of nine. [314], In summer 2010, O'Neal began dating reality TV star Nicole "Hoopz" Alexander. There's not a bigger man in NBA history to have expouse wonderful thoughts about you than Mr. Russell. [24] O'Neal's tendency to make hook shots earned comparisons to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, inspiring him to wear the same jersey number as Abdul-Jabbar, No. As a bigtime Boston Celtics fan, I really ought to have ranked this one higher. He credited the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Newark with giving him a safe place to play and keeping him off the streets. If youre too young, you may not know of Mayor McCheese. Shaq blames himself for the failed marriage and says he made mistakes and was "greedy. Ladies love when he's rocking the Fu Manchu, and big Shaq looked like a Buddhist monk in a basketball uniform at times, but this nickname, too, comes from 1990s hip-hop "slanguage.". Darling also alleged that O'Neal had used law enforcement contacts to obtain restricted information on those mistresses, and that O'Neal subsequently threw his laptop into a lake to destroy possible evidence. [210] O'Neal appeared as Officer Fluzoo in the comedy sequel Grown Ups 2. Shaq picked up many nicknames throughout his career, including "The Diesel", "Shaq Fu", "The Big Daddy", "Superman", "The Big Agave" and much more. was the next nickname he gave himself, standing for Most Dominant Ever. [14] He has appeared in numerous films and has starred in his own reality shows, Shaq's Big Challenge and Shaq Vs. But his actual basketball career gave birth within itself when he joined the Orlando Magic NBA team in 1992. The feud climaxed during training camp prior to the 20032004 season when Bryant, in an interview with ESPN journalist Jim Gray, criticized O'Neal for being out of shape, a poor leader, and putting his salary demands over the best interest of the team. Both The Big Cactus and our next entry come from Shaqs late-career foray around the league. The Big Shamrock Shaq adopted "The Big Shamrock" during his short time in Boston. [218], O'Neal and his mother, Lucille Harrison, were featured in the documentary film Apple Pie, which aired on ESPN. Shaquille O'Neal Basketball, Pennies, Steps 51 Copy quote Man, I don't wanna do what all the other guys do. creative tips and more. Shaq has had a lot of nicknames during his time in the league. On June 3, 2011, O'Neal held a press conference at his home in Orlando to officially announce his retirement.[132]. Let's stand up and play like men, and I think our guy did that tonight. He claimed one of the main reasons for wanting to be traded to Miami was because of their up-and-coming star Dwyane Wade, to whom he gave the nickname "Flash". Well send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out. He insisted on more cortisone shots and returned in the second round, but he was limited to 12minutes in two games as the Heat eliminated the Celtics from the playoffs. Shaq also appears in the music video for the release.[181]. On December 8, 2005, he was sworn in, but elected for a private ceremony to avoid distracting attention from the other officers. Yao believed that O'Neal was joking, but he said many Asians wouldn't see the humor. From bestowing nicknames such as Paul "The Truth" Pierce, Dwyane "Flash" Wade, and Tim "Big Fundamental" Duncan to dawning several himself, Shaq has more talent for aliases than Jennifer Garner. Wilt Chamberneezy -- Shaq took on this moniker during his time in Los Angeles, paying homage to the great Wilt Chamberlain. [278], O'Neal was an early investor in Google. So don't try to make it a Yao versus Shaq thing, when it's Shaq versus four other guys. He is considered one of the greatest players and centers in National Basketball Association . You'll see what I mean. [268] In June 2015, he invested in technology startup Loyale3 Holdings Inc., a San Francisco brokerage firm whose website and mobile app enables companies to sell a piece of their IPOs directly to small investors who put up as a little as $100 and also allows investors to regularly buy small amounts of shares in already public companies. No one is asking me to play with [his former Heat teammates] Chris Quinn or Ricky Davis. Shaq Lawson had 3.5 sacks last season and 25.0 sacks over his career. I like the history of the game. But what to make of the neezy? O'Neal is a 2009 inductee of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. He fulfilled that promise in 2000, earning his B.A. Really? [309], On September 4, 2007, O'Neal filed for divorce from Shaunie in a Miami-Dade Circuit court. So, lets start browsing through these amazing nicknames. Im a little torn on this one. t has nothing to do with the fact that I am a huge Celtics fan , Manny Pacquiao is one of the greatest boxers. His presence intimidated opposing players shooting near the basket, and he averaged 2.3 blocked shots per game over the course of his career. They sought the free-agent services of two aging starsforward Karl Malone and guard Gary Paytonbut due to salary cap restrictions, could not offer either player nearly as much money as he could have made with some other teams. Story Behind The Name: Shaquille O'Neal has picked up several nicknames since arriving in the NBA in 1992. "We have professionals who know what to do. Nicknames; Players; Player Follows; Podcasts; Power Rating; . [146] In hope of exploiting O'Neal's poor foul shooting, opponents often committed intentional fouls against him, a tactic known as "Hack-a-Shaq". At the beginning of the 200304 season, O'Neal wanted a contract extension with a pay raise on his remaining three years for $30million. Bad luck still haunted the squad, however, as Wade dislocated his left shoulder, leaving O'Neal as the focus of the team. The other players on the team look to this player to run things and keep things under control. [94] O'Neal credited the Suns training staff with prolonging his career. ", "Stars headline in the second class of N.J. Hall of Fame", "Freemasons For Dummies: Brother Shaquille O'Neal", "Shaquille O'Neal Show off His Freemason Ring on NBATV", "Shaquille O'Neal Proudly Shows Off Illuminati Ring and Being a Freemason [VIDEO] | AT2W", "Wilkins Honored as One of 35 Greatest McDonald's All Americans", "Shaq Mourns the Loss of His Stepfather: I Wouldn't Be Here Without You", "Video: Shaquille O'Neal, New Jersey Devils fan Puck Daddy NHL Blog Yahoo! Upon O'Neal's return, Van Gundy resigned, citing family reasons, and Pat Riley assumed head coach responsibilities. and continued to pretend that he did not know who Bryant was until well into the 200506 season.[171]. But, ultimately, I like the Big Cactus better. We're even preparing a big match between Chu Sung Hoon and Shaquille O'Neal. However, Miami showed interest, and eventually the two clubs agreed on a trade. At the same time, it uses the boring The Big X formula. On December 25, 2008, O'Neal missed his 5,000th free throw, becoming the second player in NBA history to do so, along with Chamberlain.[148]. "[45][46] The Lakers won 56 games during the 199697 season. [179] His 1993 debut album, Shaq Diesel, received platinum certification from the RIAA. It probably was a flop, but flopping is the wrong use of words. "[91], In 28 regular season games, O'Neal averaged 12.9 points and 10.6 rebounds,[92] good enough to make the playoffs. [269], O'Neal is an investor for esports team NRG Esports. Much like when Shaq and Chuck joked about one another, Brandon Ingram took the joke in stride and laughed off the comment. I hate this nickname. O'Neal is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. 10. He made the shot during the 199596 NBA season with the Orlando Magic. O'Neal went through the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Reserve Academy and became a reserve officer with the Los Angeles Port Police. It also became the name of one of the worst video games in history. [127] O'Neal missed the first round of the 2011 playoffs. O'Neal appeared in the movie CB4 in a small "interviewing" scene. 1. "I like to play people one-on-one. Which is your favorite of the possible Cleveland Shaq nicknames? I have no idea how Shaq came to be known as Mayor McShaq, but I like it. Shaquille O'Neal Basketball, Winning, Persons 33 Copy quote I am Superman. Shaq was not quite the last actual center to play the game. [57] He opted against a more involved surgery to return quicker. And Shaq is one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the world. Injuries destroyed his professional career, but he is still one of the best scorers in basketball history. Look at the rock on her finger. Larry Bird Championships: He Defeated the Best! O'Neal is also the global spokesperson for the company. His nicknames all started out with Shaq, short for his real name Shaquille O' Neal (which means Little Warrior in Arabic). Something about the length of the phrase appealed to me, but I dont love it. Osama Bin Laden was no joke. Charles Barkley will turn 58 this Saturday, and the rest of TNT's "Inside the NBA" crew consisting of Shaquille O . 7. As I have mentioned, I am suspicious of the Big X as a formula for Shaqs nicknames. He will have lunch with the students. [270], In conjunction with Boraie Development, O'Neal has developed projects in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey, including, CityPlex12 and One Riverview. As the "Inside the NBA" crew was recapping the game, Ernie Johnson made reference to Huerter's "Red Velvet" nickname. The quip inspired countless citations and references by announcers during those playoffs, though Dampier himself offered little response to the insult. Shaquille ONeal had at least 34 nicknames with most of them coming from the man himself. Start by brainstorming what words could fit into a nickname. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. When I first typed this list, I was at a complete loss for what this nickname meant. His career three-point-shot record is 1 for 22 (a 4.5% career percentage). The big man's here to kick ass and take a gazillion nicknames. After O'Neal blocked a layup by Barkley, O'Neal shoved Barkley, who then threw the ball at O'Neal. O'Neal has made numerous appearances in television commercials, including several Pepsi commercials, such as one from 1995 which parodied shows like I Love Lucy (the "Job Switching" episode), Bonanza, and Woody Woodpecker. The degree was not honorary but a real doctorate in education. 32 jersey during the 201617 season, making O'Neal one of just 32 athletes in American professional sports history to have their jersey retired by multiple teams. The Phoenix Suns acquired O'Neal in February 2008 from the league-worst Miami Heat, who had a record at the time of the trade of 937, in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. [296] In 2016, Binion withdrew the lawsuit after coming to a settlement agreement with O'Neal. Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, and the Inside the NBA crew are known for making jokes about themselves and current players, and Barkley just gained a new joke nickname. He hosted the show Upload with Shaquille O'Neal which aired on TruTV for one season. But it's cool", said O'Neal. At Jonathan Burke's Gracie Gym, he trained in boxing, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and wrestling. Back when he was still with Orlando in 1993, he even released a rap album called Shaq Diesel, which featured the legendary Phife Dawg and went platinum. In his first playoff series, O'Neal averaged 20.7 points and 13.3 rebounds as the Pacers swept the Magic. He has a Superman logo tattoo on his arm and many of his cars also have Superman emblems on them. [104] Upon arriving in Cleveland, O'Neal said, "My motto is very simple: Win a Ring for the King", referring to LeBron James. held on to win game 6 with O'Neal scoring 28 points with 16 rebounds and 5 blocks to help Miami reach their first-ever NBA Finals. He was named as a member of the All-NBA Third Team. [43][44] O'Neal insisted he did not choose Los Angeles for the money; discussing the signing he referred to a couple of his product endorsements, saying: "I'm tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money. I have been a Boston sports fan for more than forty years. After Shaq's retirement, Shaq and Charles Barkley became co-workers in the NBA Hall of fame as analysts. With another NBA postseason underway, there are likely to be a few more gems coming over the next few weeks. L.C.L. Osama Bin Shaq, my favorite of the nicknames, is a name which he gave himself after terrorizing Keith Van Horn under the boards in the 2002 NBA Finals. For basketball fans over the age of 30, Shaquille O'Neal or Shaq, as he's better-known is an NBA legend who, after claiming the Rookie of the Year Award in 1993, would eventually go on to help lead the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships. M.D.E. [79], In the 200607season, O'Neal missed 35 games after an injury to his left knee in November required surgery. He ranks 8th all-time in points scored, 6th in field goals, 15th in rebounds, and 8th in blocks. These are the ones that I know: Paul Pierce: The Truth Dwayne Wade: The Flash Tim Duncan: Big Fundamental Kawhi Leonard: Sugar K Leonard Robin Lopez: Barbeque Chicken Javale McGee: Tragic Bronson Dorell Wright: Dorell Wrong Erick Dampier: Erica Dampier Yao Ming: Ching Chong Please scroll down for his favorite superhero nickname. The boring The Big X structure and a terrible story revolving around promoting some company. comment . Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham recently offered up contradictory explanations when asked about LA's decision-making regarding star center Anthony Davis. [246] In September 2012, O'Neal made a guest appearance on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Impact Wrestling program, where he had a backstage segment with Hulk Hogan. O'Neal reportedly wanted a role in X2 (2003), the second installment of the X-Men film series, but was ignored by the filmmakers. But his actual basketball career gave birth within itself when he joined the Orlando Magic NBA team in 1992. Shaq gave himself this one after he said he terrorized Keith Van Horn on the boards during his 2002 NBA Finals win. They won three consecutive championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002. "[100] In a 2006 interview in TIME, O'Neal said if he were NBA commissioner, he would "Make a guy have to beat a guynot flop and get calls and be nice to the referees and kiss ass. Shaq Daddy [173] O'Neal justified his act by saying "I was freestyling. Also, why would he want to work so hard? One of his friends was Brooklyn's Notorious B.I.G. They might use them to refer to each other, or even just to their friends. [170], O'Neal was very vocal with the media, often making jabs at former Laker teammate Kobe Bryant. I didn't even play on a team. He was one of two players (the other being Reggie Miller) from the 1994 roster to be also named to the Dream Team III. 1 on Lake's list? Shaq earned many cool names after winning ample awards in his basketball career. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1993-94 Fleer Ultra Famous Nicknames Complete Insert Set NBA Jordan Shaq at the best online prices at eBay! [10], O'Neal experienced a rough start for the 200708 season, averaging career lows in points, rebounds, and blocks. This Big Cactus has many nicknames that reflect his personality.