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Shaquille O’Neal

Joshua Silvia
2–3 minutes
Shaquille O'Neal, the 7'1" 325-pound Hall of Fame center, at a 2017 NBA event
Photo: MarkScottAustinTX · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
NBA · Hall of Fame

Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal

4× NBA champion, 3× Finals MVP, 2000 NBA MVP — most dominant center of his era.

Position
Center
Size
7'1" · 325 lb
Born
Mar 6, 1972 · Newark, New Jersey
Drafted
1992 · pick 1
1,207
Games
23.7
Points Per Game
10.9
Rebounds Per Game
2.3
Blocks Per Game
.582 (one of the highest ever)
Field Goal Pct

Shaquille O'Neal won four NBA championships across 19 seasons (three with the Lakers, one with Miami) and earned the 2000 MVP after winning the Finals MVP three years running. At 7'1" and 325 pounds, the most physically dominant center of his era. Inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2016.

Draft Night

Shaquille O'Neal drafted #1 overall by the Orlando Magic (1992 NBA Draft).

Career

1992-1996Orlando MagicDrafted #1 overall out of LSU. 1993 Rookie of the Year, four All-Star selections, took Orlando to the 1995 Finals (swept by Houston).
1996-2004Los Angeles LakersSigned as a free agent in the same offseason the Lakers traded for Kobe Bryant. Three straight NBA championships and three Finals MVPs (2000-2002). 2000 regular-season MVP.
2004-2008Miami HeatTraded to Miami in 2004. Won fourth championship alongside Dwyane Wade in 2006.
2008-2009Phoenix SunsOne-and-a-half seasons under Steve Nash.
2009-2010Cleveland CavaliersPursued a fifth ring with LeBron; lost to Boston in the conference semis.
2010-2011Boston CelticsFinal NBA season with the eventual rivals.

Honors & Awards

4× NBA Champion (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006) 3× NBA Finals MVP (2000, 2001, 2002) 1× NBA MVP (2000) 15× NBA All-Star 1993 NBA Rookie of the Year Naismith Hall of Fame (2016) NBA 75th Anniversary Team

In-depth stories

Shaquille O'Neal Height: 7'1" and 325 lbs
Shaquille O'Neal's height: officially 7'1" (1992 combine: 7'2¼" in shoes, 9'7" reach, 327 lb at 20). How Shaq compares to other big men.
Where Shaq Went to College: LSU (1989-1992)
Shaquille O'Neal went to LSU (1989-92) under Dale Brown — three NCAA Tournament trips and the 1991 Wooden Award before going #1 to Orlando.

See also all Hall of Fame stories · all players · player stock market.

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