Framed at the Lakers business office in advance of a charitable donation, the tag on Shaquille O’Neal’s warm up jersey from the 2001 NBA Finals reads: 4 XL, 2+ length. That might describe both the 7-1, 325-pound frame of Shaq and his impact in Los Angeles, where he joined forces with Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson to win three straight championships.
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The Finals MVP in 2000, 2001 and 2002, Shaq played 19 seasons in the NBA after being drafted No. 1 by the Orlando Magic in 1992. Best known for his days as a Laker after then-general-manager Jerry West signed him as a free agent in 1996, O’Neal went on to win one more ring while in Miami (2006), and moved on to Phoenix, Cleveland and finally Boston before calling it quits on Wednesday afternoon.
Shaq, sure to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when eligible, ranks 12th on the NBA’s all-time rebounding list (13,099) and fifth on the league’s all-time scoring list (28,596), one spot ahead of Bryant (27,868), who should pass him early next season.
Below is a sampling of Shaq’s myriad accomplishments both with the Lakers and throughout his 19-year career.
SHAQ IN LOS ANGELES:
- Eight years in Los Angeles
- One of four Lakers to win the NBA MVP award
- Three NBA Finals MVPs as a Laker tie him with Magic Johnson
- Three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team member with the Lakers
- Sixth most all-star selections as a Laker (7)
- Two all-star MVP’s as a Laker
- Six time All-NBA first team selections as a Laker
- Most NBA Player of the Months as Laker (before it was separated by conference)
- Franchise record for free throw attempts in a game (31)
- Franchise record for most offensive rebounds in a game (14)
- Scored 61 points 3/6/00 (@ LAC)
- Averaged 27.0 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game as a Laker
- In 1999-2000 MVP season, averaged 29.7 points, 13.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in 79 games
SHAQ'S OVERALL ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
- Earned All-NBA in 14 of his 17 seasons, including First Team honors eight times (six with L.A.), Second Team honors twice and Third Team honors four times
- 15-time NBA All-Star, the second-most All-Star appearances in NBA history behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, including three All-Star MVP trophies
- Started nine of the 12 NBA All-Star Games in which he participated (he missed three due to injury) and averaged 16.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.8 assists in 22.8 minutes while shooting .551 percent from the floor
- The 1999-00 NBA MVP was named Finals MVP three times (2000, 2001 and 2002)
- Three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team member (1999-00, 2000-01 and 2002-03)
- NBA Player of the Month 12 times and Player of the Week 19 times
- Rookie of the Year and First Team All-Rookie in 1992-93
- First player in NBA history to earn Player of the Week honors after the first week of his career after he averaged 25.8 points and 16.4 rebounds
- Winner of a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics as a member of the USA Men’s Senior National Team
- Appeared in 1,207 regular season games (1,197 starts) in his 19-year NBA career…owns averages of 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 blocks in 34.7 minutes while shooting .582 percent from the field
- Prior to his retirement, ranked first in points, field goals made, field goal percentage, free throws attempted, offensive rebounds and games played among active players
- Ranks 12th on the NBA’s all-time rebounding list (13,099)
- Led the NBA in scoring average twice, in points scored three times, in field goal percentage on 10 occasions (breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA record of nine), in field goals made five times, in field goals attempted twice, in free throws made once and free throws attempted on five occasions