(Photo : STAN HONDA/AFP through Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES: Shaquille O’Neal holds the MVP trophy (R) and the Larry O’Brian Championship trophy (L) after the Los Angeles Lakers received recreation 5 of the NBA Finals in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers 15 June, 2001 at First Union Center in Philadelphia, PA. The Lakers received the sport 108-96 to win the best-of-seven recreation sequence 4-1.
Shaquille O’Neal is broadly acknowledged as one of the dominant gamers in NBA historical past, amassing a Hall of Fame-worthy profession over 19 seasons on the planet’s premier basketball league.
Standing at 7 ft 1 inch and weighing 325 kilos, O’Neal clinched 4 NBA championships and earned the Finals MVP title in three of them.
Which is the perfect of the perfect groups Shaq has performed for; listed below are their rankings:
6. Phoenix Suns
While buying O’Neal is likely to be deemed a wise transfer for a lot of groups, given his standing as among the finest gamers in NBA historical past, this commerce proved detrimental for the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns acquired O’Neal earlier than the February 2008 commerce deadline, giving up Shawn Marion, a significant piece of their core, and Marcus Banks.
Phoenix had beforehand revolutionized the league with their fast-paced, seven-second or much less offense, however they weren’t in a position to win a championship with it. Critics famous they wanted a conventional massive man to achieve the postseason.
However, the Suns have been eradicated within the first spherical of the 2008 playoffs and didn’t make the postseason the 12 months after.
5. Boston Celtics
Although Shaq had a minimal impression on the staff, the 2010-11 Celtics have been coming off a detailed loss in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals.
O’Neal’s determination to affix the Celtics was largely motivated by a need to match Kobe Bryant’s championship rely, as Bryant had lately surpassed him.
After topping the East by means of the All-Star break, the Celtics dropped to 3rd by the tip of the common season.
Still, they managed to comb the New York Knicks within the first spherical of the playoffs earlier than going through elimination by the hands of the Miami Heat with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
O’Neal spent the 2009-10 season in Cleveland, led by star LeBron James. They completed with the perfect file in all the NBA for the second straight season, with enormous expectations for an NBA title.
Shaq had taken a considerably lesser position in comparison with his prior stints, selecting to defer to James, who was already arguably the league’s finest participant at the moment.
After a robust displaying all year long, the Cavs have been upset by the Boston Celtics within the second spherical of the 2010 playoffs, in the end resulting in a disappointing summer time the place James left the staff for the Heat.
3. Orlando Magic
O’Neal took the league by storm after being drafted by the Orlando Magic with the primary total decide within the 1992 NBA Draft.
He dominated immediately from day 1, successful the 1993 NBA Rookie of the Year, and was voted a starter within the All-Star recreation. His partnership with guard Penny Hardaway made the Magic aggressive all through the following few years.
Shaq led the Magic to a Finals look in 1995 and 4 years into his skilled profession in 1996, he was already named as one of many 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
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2. Miami Heat
At the tail finish of his prime, O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004 after a extremely publicized feud with former teammate Kobe Bryant.
During his first season in Miami, Shaq had an impressive 12 months, narrowly shedding the 2005 NBA MVP award to Steve Nash in one of many closest MVP races ever.
He additionally received his fourth championship in 2006, however younger guard Dwyane Wade carried the load for the Heat.
1. Los Angeles Lakers
The pinnacle of Shaq’s profession was spent below the brilliant lights of Los Angeles with the Lakers. After signing as a free agent in 1996, the massive man led the Lakers to 3 straight NBA championships at first of the brand new millennium in 2000.
O’Neal received Finals MVP in all of the championship runs throughout their three-peat, forming among the finest partnerships of all time with Kobe Bryant.
He additionally received his sole NBA Most Valuable Player award carrying the purple-and-gold in 2000.
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