O’Neal, Shaquille, << sha KEEL >> (1972-…), was a star center in the National Basketball Association (NBA). O’Neal stands 7 feet 1 inch (216 centimeters) tall and weighs about 315 pounds (142.9 kilograms). He became known for his strength and for his powerful slam dunks. O’Neal consistently ranked among the NBA leaders in scoring, shooting percentage, rebounds, and blocked shots. He led the NBA in scoring in the 1994-1995 season with a 29.3 point average per game. O’Neal led the NBA in scoring again in the 1999-2000 season with a 29.7 point average and was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player.
Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal was born on March 6, 1972, in Newark, New Jersey. O’Neal attended Louisiana State University, leaving in 1992 after his junior year to turn professional. The Orlando Magic selected him as the first player in the 1992 NBA draft. He immediately became a dominant player and was named the league’s Rookie of the Year for 1992-1993. In 1996, O’Neal signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers and helped the Lakers win three straight NBA championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002. He was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004 and starred on the team that won Miami’s first NBA championship in 2006. Miami traded O’Neal to the Phoenix Suns in 2008. Phoenix traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009. O’Neal played with the Boston Celtics in the 2010-2011 season and then retired. His career total of 28,596 points was the fifth highest among NBA players at the time of his retirement.
O’Neal has appeared in motion pictures and has recorded as a rap artist. After his retirement, O’Neal also became a television analyst for NBA games. His popularity made him one of the most sought-after athletes for commercials and product endorsements. His autobiography, Shaq Uncut: My Story, was published in 2011. O’Neal was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
