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2004-05 Player HQ
Jermaine O'Neal
Number: 7
Height: 6-11
Weight: 255
Birthday: 10/13/78
Scouting Report:
O'Neal has evolved quickly into one of the game's elite big men and is now established as an annual MVP candidate. A player who likes to add or refine an element every year, he shows a much-improved mid-range shot and is making major improvement as a passer out of the post. He re-discovered his jump hook late in the season and used it very effectively in the playoffs. Now that he's broken through the postseason wall by leading the team to the conference finals, has two remaining goals: an NBA title and a league MVP trophy. Both are within reach this season if he continues to improve and remains healthy.
Career Highlights:
Posted the third-highest scoring output in franchise history with a career-high 55 points against Milwaukee, 1/4/05, going 18-of-28 from the field and 19-of-25 from the free-throw line.
That performance came less than two months after scoring 39 in Philadelphia on 11/12/04, which had been a career high.
Earned All-NBA status for the third year in a row (second team) and finished third in NBA MVP balloting after a stellar 2003-04 season
Won the Magic Johnson Award from the Pro Basketball Writers Association for his combination of elite status and cooperation with the media
Helped U.S. win a gold medal in the 2003 Tournament of the Americas Olympic qualifier, but was forced to withdraw from 2004 Olympics due to a knee injury
Only player in the Eastern Conference and one of five in the NBA to average 20+ points and 10+ rebounds a game
Three-time NBA All-Star made his second straight start in the 2004 All-Star game in Los Angeles, 2/15, and scored 16 points with a team-high nine rebounds
Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December 2003.
Had a career-high 44 double-doubles in 2003-04, the second most in a single season in Pacers' NBA history
Set team playoff record by averaging 17.5 rebounds in the first-round loss to Boston in 2003, including a single-game record 22 in Game 5.
The first Pacers’ player to ever be named Player of the Month twice in his career, he won the Eastern Conference Player of the Month twice in 2002-03 (January and April).
Led the Eastern Conference and was sixth in the NBA with 43 double-doubles in '02-03.
Ranked seventh in the league in blocked shots (2.31) in '02-03, he set a team NBA record by rejecting 10 shots against the Toronto Raptors, 1/22/03. In that game, he became the second Pacers’ player (and the first in the NBA) to ever have a triple-double involving blocked shots. He added 11 rebounds and 18 points in that game.
His four blocked shots in the 2003 All-Star Game was the third highest total in All-Star Game history.
NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2001-02, raised his scoring average from a career-high 12.9 ppg in 2000-01 to a team-leading 19.0. Also lifted his rebounding average to a team-best 10.5 rpg, which was seventh best in the NBA.
Joined Reggie Miller on the U.S. team for the 2002 World Basketball Championship in Indianapolis.
Helped the U.S. win a Gold Medal in the 2001 Goodwill Games.
Made his NBA debut at the age of 18 years, 1 month and 22 days old, becoming the youngest player in NBA history, against the Denver Nuggets on 12/5/96
Five Questions:
What’s the most important thing a coach ever told you?
Play hard all the time.
If you weren’t a pro basketball player, what pro sport would you be playing (and what position?)
Football, wide receiver.
What’s your favorite charity/community memory?
The Christmas event I put on every year and the Jermaine O’Neal Super Shootout in the spring.
Who is the most famous person you ever met?
Bill Clinton.
What reality show would you like to participate in and why?
(No answer)
Contract Status:
Signed through the 2009-10 season
Personal File:
In December, 2003, was honored with the NBA’s Community Assist Award
Sponsors the "Jermaine O'Neal Super Shootout," a tournament for Marion County (Ind.) high school basketball seniors
Donated clothing, books and gifts to more than 400 children for Christmas, in conjunction with the Indianapolis Housing Authority and Indiana Black Expo
Lists his mother, Angela Kennedy, and his high school coach, George Glymph as his personal heroes, as well as Jesus Christ
Has an older brother, Clifford
Hobbies include reading, bowling, watching movies, billiards and playing video games
Is involved with the Boys and Girls Club and has conducted basketball camps during the summer
Participates in the Call-A-Pacer program
Lists football as his favorite sport
Favorite movie is "Boyz In The Hood"
Appeared in a Nike commercial along with Baron Davis, Paul Pierce and Jerry Stackhouse
Wears a size 15 basketball shoe.
Named Player of the Year and Mr. Basketball in South Carolina as a senior at Eau Claire High School
Named to the USA Today All-USA Basketball Team
