Shaq's 2004-05 Gallery

2005 Dancer Audition Gallery

Wade's 2004-05 Gallery

“For over a year, the HEAT’s relationship with Shaquille has been a win-win situation on and off the court,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “We have been able to secure one of the most dominant men to ever play the game of basketball as a member of the HEAT. At the same time, we have gained flexibility to achieve our ultimate goal of winning an NBA Championship. We are thrilled that Shaquille will wear a HEAT uniform for many years to come and that his jersey will someday hang from the rafters at AmericanAirlines Arena.”

“I'm very excited about my new agreement with the HEAT,” said O’Neal. “This contract allows me to address all of my family's long-term financial goals while allowing the HEAT the ability to acquire those players that we need to win a championship.”

“This agreement culminates the spirit of the relationship that began more than one year ago,” said O’Neal’s agent Perry Rogers. “Shaquille and the entire HEAT organization have been committed to bringing a championship to Miami. This contract ensures that Shaquille will be compensated at a level commensurate with his position as the NBA's most dominant athlete while giving the team the flexibility it needs to attract new players.”

O’Neal, who was originally acquired by the HEAT on July 14, 2004 started in all 73 games in which he appeared last season, averaging 22.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.34 blocks in 34.1 minutes per game. He ranked first in the NBA in field goal percentage (.601), sixth in rebounding, blocks and double-doubles (43), ninth in total rebounds (760), 10th in offensive rebounds (253), 12th in scoring average and 15th in defensive rebounds (507). He also led the HEAT in field goals made (658), dunks (255), field goal percentage, free throws attempted (franchise record 765), offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, total rebounds, blocks and double-doubles. He was also named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for March and earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for the week ending December 19.

O’Neal, a three-time NBA Champion, has averaged 26.7 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.58 blocks per game over the course of his 13-year NBA career. He is a two-time regular season scoring champion and has led the league in field goal percentage eight times. He ranks first among active NBA players in field goal percentage (.579) and second in scoring average (26.7 ppg), and third and sixth, respectively, on the NBA’s all-time list. He is also second among active players in blocked shots (2,273) and leads the NBA with the most seasons averaging 20+ points and 10+ rebounds per season, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon and Wilt Chamberlain this past season. O’Neal has done it 13 times; the only player to do it in every season in which he has played.

In the playoffs, O’Neal has averaged 26.6 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.3 blocks in 171 games.

O’Neal was named one of the league’s 50 Greatest Players in NBA History and is a 12-time All-Star. He has been an All-NBA Team selection for the past 12 seasons, including being named to the All-NBA First Team for the last six years. In his 13 NBA seasons, he was named the league’s Most Valuable Player once, the NBA Finals MVP on three occasions and the NBA All-Star Game MVP twice. He is one of only three players in NBA history to win MVP honors in the regular season, All-Star Game and the Finals in the same year. He is a two-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection and was also given the IBM Award for all-around contribution to a team’s success twice. He has garnered NBA Player of the Week honors 19 times and NBA Player of the Month honors 12 times.