SUMMARY
- Shaquille O'Neal played in the NBA between 1992 and 2011.
- He chose to retire after he realized he couldn't dunk the ball normally.
Shaquille O’Neal was an exciting player to watch on the floor. Many NBA stars go through phases during their career in which they either dominate, break out, or lose their abilities. O’Neal was dominant throughout his entire career until he left the Miami Heat in 2008. O’Neal helped his teams achieve several playoff runs while averaging close to 30 points per game at times. But it all eventually came crashing down.
Shaquille O’Neal highlights 🔥 pic.twitter.com/O9WB8diN7a
— ThrowbackHoops (@ThrowbackHoops) April 6, 2021
Shaq had won three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers between 2000 and 2003. Kobe Bryant and himself were dubbed the greatest duo in NBA history. However, they had their differences, and it ultimately led to his departure from the Lakers in 2004. Two years later, he helped Dwyane Wade win a title in Miami after which he played for the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and finally, the Boston Celtics.
When Shaquille O’Neal decided to call it quits
Retiring is probably one of the toughest decisions to make for an athlete. Especially since they dedicate their entire lives to their respective sport for several years. Shaquille O’Neal spent nearly two decades in the NBA before hanging up his jersey in 2011. Over time, he was able to maintain his ability to play nor could he stay in shape. He spent his final season in Boston but even then, he spent most of his time battling injuries.
During a recent episode of The Big Podcast, he said, “When I had to pump fake the dunk. And then I’d look at the stats and I got nine f**king points. I’m like, “This ain’t f**king Shaq. This is Dwight Howard. Nah I was in Boston like nine points, four rebounds, I was like, ‘Man, I gotta f**king go.'” He understood that it was time to pass the torch to the youngsters. And that was exactly what he chose to do while being a mentor to them as well.
Shaquille O’Neal has transitioned into a successful media personality
Before Shaquille O’Neal decided to retire, he had one more year left with the Celtics. Turns out, he was happy he got injured which made it easier for him to allow him to sink into the idea of retirement. He said, “So when I got hurt, I was actually happy I got hurt. I was at home and I was like, ‘I got a million and a half on this last year deal. Do I want to do a Shaq tour, do I want to come back?’ Like I’m done.”
Since then, Shaquille O’Neal has been a big part of the TNT group. He currently hosts Inside the NBA alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley as well. O’Neal boasts a massive net worth due to various investments he has made over the years. He loves appearing on social media and interacting with fans regularly.