Shaquille O'Neal, better known as Shaq, is a retired American basketball player and current sports analyst on "Inside the NBA." Standing at an imposing 7'1" and weighing 325 pounds, he dominated the court as a center for six NBA teams during his 19-year career, winning four NBA championships. O'Neal is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players and centers in history.
Willis Reed won the NBA MVP, All-Star Game MVP, and Finals MVP awards in 1970, a feat matched by only two other players in history: Shaquille O'Neal and Michael Jordan.
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal was born in Newark, New Jersey.
Shaquille O'Neal enrolled at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he pursued a degree in business and played basketball for the LSU Tigers.
Shaquille O'Neal set a state record for rebounds in a single season with 791, a record that still stands for players in any classification.
Shaquille O'Neal received the Adolph Rupp Trophy as the NCAA men's basketball player of the year, showcasing his exceptional talent during his college career.
Shaquille O'Neal began his NBA career, marking the start of his journey to becoming one of the most dominant players in league history.
Shaquille O'Neal was drafted by the Orlando Magic with the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft.
Shaquille O'Neal won the NBA Rookie of the Year award for his outstanding performance in the 1992-1993 NBA season.
Due to his significant size and power, Shaquille O'Neal broke the steel backboard supports with his dunks twice during his rookie season in the NBA. This led the league to strengthen and increase the stability of the backboards in the following season.
Shaquille O'Neal appeared as a player in the arcade version of "NBA Jam".
Shaquille O'Neal begins composing rap music and releases his debut album, "Shaq Diesel", which receives platinum certification from the RIAA despite initial criticism of his rapping abilities.
Shaquille O'Neal made several appearances in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), including at the Bash at the Beach pay per view, where he presented the WCW World Heavyweight Championship title belt to the winner of the match between Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair.
Shaquille O'Neal released his second rap album, 'Shaq Fu: The Return,' which included a song expressing negative feelings toward his biological father.
Shaquille O'Neal was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1994 FIBA World Championship, leading Dream Team II to a gold medal with an undefeated 8-0 record. O'Neal averaged 18 points and 8.5 rebounds throughout the tournament, showcasing his dominance on the international stage.
Shaquille O'Neal was selected to be a part of the Dream Team III for the 1994 FIBA World Championship, alongside fellow 1994 roster member Reggie Miller.
Shaquille O'Neal appeared in several Pepsi commercials, including one that parodied classic shows like "I Love Lucy", "Bonanza", and "Woody Woodpecker".
Shaquille O'Neal is featured as a guest rapper alongside Michael Jackson on the song "2 Bad" from Jackson's album "HIStory".
Shaquille O'Neal led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals, marking his first appearance in the championship series.
Shaquille O'Neal made his one and only three-point shot during his career while playing for the Orlando Magic in the 1995-1996 season. This gave him a career three-point record of 1 for 22, or a 4.5% career percentage.
After the 1996 Olympics, Shaquille O'Neal decided to stop participating in international basketball competitions.
Michael Jordan accomplished the triple MVP feat, winning the NBA MVP, All-Star Game MVP, and Finals MVP awards in 1996 and 1998.
Shaquille O'Neal won his second gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta as part of Dream Team III. He was upset with coach Lenny Wilkens for playing David Robinson more minutes in the final game, despite Wilkens' previous explanation that it would likely be Robinson's last Olympics.
Shaquille O'Neal provided the voice for an animated version of himself in the "Back on Shaq" episode of "Johnny Bravo".
Shaquille O'Neal starred as John Henry Irons in the film "Steel", becoming one of the first African Americans to portray a major comic book superhero in a motion picture.
Michael Jordan achieved the triple MVP feat for the second time, winning the NBA MVP, All-Star Game MVP, and Finals MVP awards in 1998.
Shaquille O'Neal was initially scheduled to host the second episode of Saturday Night Live's 24th season, but had to back out due to scheduling conflicts. He did, however, appear in two sketches during the episode.
Shaquille O'Neal expressed anger over being left out of the 1999 FIBA AmeriCup squad, citing a "lack of respect".
Shaquille O'Neal won his first NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, marking his dominance during the 1999-2000 NBA season.
O'Neal fulfills his promise to his mother by earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in general studies from LSU.
Shaquille O'Neal accomplished a rare feat, winning the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, the All-Star Game MVP, and the Finals MVP all in the same year (2000).
Shaquille O'Neal appeared in a commercial for Disney during the 2000 Screen Actors Guild strike and was subsequently fined by the union for crossing the picket line.
Shaquille O'Neal decided not to play in the 2000 Olympics, stating that two Olympic gold medals were enough for him.
Shaquille O'Neal started training in mixed martial arts (MMA) at Jonathan Burke's Gracie Gym, adopting the nickname Diesel. His training included boxing, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, and wrestling.
Shaquille O'Neal won his first NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, marking the beginning of a three-peat for the team.
Shaquille O'Neal missed all 11 of his free throws in a game against the Seattle SuperSonics, setting a record for most missed free throws in a single game.
During his first season with the Miami Heat, Shaquille O'Neal played in 73 games, marking the highest number of games he had played in a single season since the 2001 season.
O'Neal is featured in Aaron Carter's hit single "That's How I Beat Shaq" and appears in the music video.
Shaquille O'Neal made several cameo appearances in films and music videos, including "Freddy Got Fingered", "Jack and Jill", "Scary Movie 4", and music videos for 311, P. Diddy, and Aaron Carter.
Shaquille O'Neal won his second consecutive NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Shaquille O'Neal achieved his third NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, solidifying their dominance in the league.
Shaquille O'Neal appeared on the Discovery Channel special "Motorcycle Mania 2", requesting a custom motorcycle from Jesse James.
Shaquille O'Neal chose not to play in the 2002 FIBA World Championship.
Shaquille O'Neal fueled the rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings with his humorous and incendiary comments. He commonly referred to the Sacramento team as the "Queens," and after the Lakers beat the Kings in a seven-game series en route to their third championship with O'Neal, he declared during the victory parade that Sacramento would never be the capital of California.
Shaquille O'Neal lent his voice to the video game "Quest for the Code".
Shaquille O'Neal provided the voice for an animated version of himself in the "Static Shaq" episode of "Static Shock".
Shaquille O'Neal married Shaunie Nelson. Shaunie had a son and a daughter from previous relationships, and together with Shaq, they have four children.
At the start of the 2003-04 season, Shaquille O'Neal sought a contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, demanding a pay raise to $30 million over the remaining three years of his contract. This led to tension with the team's owner, Jerry Buss.
Shaquille O'Neal appeared as a player in "NBA Jam" (2003).
Shaquille O'Neal appeared in a SportsCenter commercial and played Officer Fluzoo in the comedy sequel "Grown Ups 2".
Following the Lakers' loss to the Detroit Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals, Shaquille O'Neal was unhappy with criticisms from Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak about his performance and future with the team. Further fueling his discontent was the departure of coach Phil Jackson at the owner's request. O'Neal, feeling the team was prioritizing Kobe Bryant, demanded a trade.
Shaquille O'Neal rejected an offer to play in the 2004 Olympics.
Shaquille O'Neal was featured as a player in "NBA Live 2004" and "Backyard Basketball".
Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat after a growing feud with teammate Kobe Bryant.
Shaquille O'Neal's feud with Kobe Bryant reached its peak during the 2003-04 training camp when Bryant publicly criticized O'Neal for being out of shape, lacking leadership, and prioritizing his salary demands over the team's interests.
Shaquille O'Neal was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Miami Heat in exchange for Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, and a future first-round draft pick. O'Neal switched back to his old jersey number 32 and promised to bring a championship to Miami.
During the 2005 NBA playoffs, Shaquille O'Neal compared his own subpar performance to that of Dallas Mavericks center Erick Dampier, who had failed to score any points in a recent game. Though Dampier did not react much to the insult, it became a popular reference point for announcers throughout the playoffs.
Early in the 2005-06 season, Shaquille O'Neal suffered a right ankle injury that sidelined him for 18 games. During this period, Heat coach Stan Van Gundy unexpectedly resigned, citing personal reasons. Pat Riley took over as head coach.
O'Neal earns an online Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix.
Shaquille O'Neal finished the 2005-06 season with the highest field goal percentage in the entire league.
Shaquille O'Neal was featured in the ESPN documentary "Apple Pie", had his own reality series "Shaquille" on ESPN, and hosted "Shaq's Big Challenge" on ABC.
Shaquille O'Neal was very vocal in the media, often aiming jabs at his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant. In the summer of 2005, when asked about Bryant, O'Neal responded by saying, "I'm sorry, who?" He continued to pretend he did not know who Bryant was until well into the 2005-2006 NBA season.
O'Neal is given an honorary U.S. Deputy Marshal title and becomes the spokesman for the Safe Surfin' Foundation, serving an honorary role on the task force dedicated to tracking down online sexual predators.
Following the death of Hall of Fame center George Mikan, whom he considered a significant influence, Shaquille O'Neal offered to pay for the funeral expenses, which Mikan's family accepted.
Shaquille O'Neal signed a 5-year contract extension with the Miami Heat worth $100 million. This was considered a pay cut for O'Neal, but it demonstrated his commitment to the team and secured his services for the long term.
O'Neal is sworn in as a Miami Beach reserve officer, opting for a private ceremony to avoid diverting attention from other officers. He assists in the arrest of two suspects involved in a hate crime shortly after.
Despite initial interest, Shaquille O'Neal ultimately declined an invitation to be on the US preliminary roster for the 2006-2008 Olympics.
In a 2006 interview with TIME magazine, Shaquille O'Neal expressed his disapproval of flopping in the NBA, stating that if he were commissioner, he would enforce rules that promoted genuine competition over players attempting to draw fouls through exaggerated contact.
Shaquille O'Neal had a dominant playoff run with the Miami Heat, leading them to their first-ever NBA Finals appearance. He had notable performances against the Chicago Bulls, including 30 points and 20 rebounds in the series-clinching game. He also performed well against the New Jersey Nets and the Detroit Pistons, putting up strong numbers throughout the playoffs.
Shaquille O'Neal secured his fourth NBA championship, this time with the Miami Heat.
Shaquille O'Neal suffered a knee injury that required surgery and caused him to miss 35 games during the 2006-07 season. During this time, he publicly criticized his former coach Phil Jackson, calling him "Benedict Arnold." The Miami Heat struggled in his absence but managed to secure a playoff spot upon his return.
Shaquille O'Neal's Miami Heat and Erick Dampier's Dallas Mavericks faced each other in the 2006 NBA Finals.
The Los Angeles Lakers used the future first-round draft pick acquired in the Shaquille O'Neal trade to select Jordan Farmar in the 2006 NBA Draft.
The Miami Heat, the defending champions, were swept in the first round of the 2006-07 NBA playoffs by the Chicago Bulls. This was the first time in 13 years that Shaquille O'Neal did not advance to the second round. However, he did reach a career milestone of 25,000 points during the season.
Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant publicly reconcile, ending their long-standing feud, with O'Neal stating he accepted advice from Bill Russell to make peace with Bryant.
Shaquille O'Neal recorded his second career triple-double in a game against the Toronto Raptors, scoring 15 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing out a career-high 10 assists.
O'Neal, an "honorary deputy" in Bedford County, Virginia, participates in a raid despite not being qualified as a SWAT officer.
Before being traded to the Phoenix Suns, Shaquille O'Neal played 33 games for the Miami Heat in the 2007-08 season, averaging 14.2 points per game. After the trade, he played 28 games for the Suns, averaging 12.9 points per game.
Shaquille O'Neal experienced a decline in performance during the 2007-08 season, averaging career lows in points, rebounds, and blocks. He also missed games due to injuries and had an altercation with coach Pat Riley, which ultimately led to his trade from the Miami Heat to the Phoenix Suns.
Shaquille O'Neal hosted the ABC reality show "Shaq's Big Challenge," in which he challenged children from Florida to lose weight and get in shape.
Shaquille O'Neal participated in the first "Idol Gives Back" event.
Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Phoenix Suns midway through the 2007-2008 season.
The Phoenix Suns, led by Shaquille O'Neal, faced the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2007 NBA playoffs. Despite the trade for O'Neal, the Suns were eliminated in five games. O'Neal averaged 15.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game in the series.
Shaquille O'Neal filed for divorce from Shaunie Nelson in a Miami-Dade Circuit court.
Shaquille O'Neal had a much improved 2008-09 season with the Phoenix Suns, averaging 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in the first half of the season. The Suns achieved a 23-18 record and secured the 2nd place in their division.
Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2009-2010 season.
Shaquille O'Neal got into a heated argument with coach Pat Riley during a practice in February 2008, resulting in physical contact between the two. This incident further strained their relationship and contributed to O'Neal's trade from the Miami Heat shortly after.
Shaquille O'Neal was traded from the Miami Heat to the Phoenix Suns in February 2008 in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. The trade was intended to improve the Suns' chances against Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs.
Shaquille O'Neal made his debut for the Phoenix Suns on February 20, 2008, against his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers. He scored 15 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in the game, which the Suns lost 130-124. Despite the loss, O'Neal remained optimistic about his future with the Suns.
Shaquille O'Neal had his special deputyship revoked by the Bedford County, Virginia, and Maricopa County, Arizona, sheriff departments following the release of a video where he used racial slurs while rapping about Kobe Bryant.
Shaquille O'Neal freestyles a diss rap about Kobe Bryant in a New York club, blaming Bryant for his divorce and taunting him for not winning a championship without him. Despite O'Neal's claims it was "all in fun", the event sparks controversy and leads to Sheriff Joe Arpaio's intention to relieve O'Neal of his Maricopa County sheriff posse badge.
Shaquille O'Neal became the second player in NBA history, after Wilt Chamberlain, to miss 5,000 free throws in his career.
For the first time since his rookie season in 1992-93, Shaquille O'Neal did not participate in the NBA playoffs. Despite this, he was named to the All-NBA Third Team. The Phoenix Suns informed O'Neal of the possibility of being traded for salary cap relief.
O'Neal attends the Sportscaster U. training camp at Syracuse University to improve his broadcasting skills.
Shaquille O'Neal began playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, joining the team for the 2009-2010 season.
Shaquille O'Neal experienced career lows in nearly every major statistical category during the 2009-10 season, primarily due to splitting playing time at the center position with Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
Shaquille O'Neal returned to the All-Star Game in 2009 after missing the previous year. He shared the co-MVP award with his former teammate Kobe Bryant.
Shaquille O'Neal was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
Shaquille O'Neal had a standout performance against the Toronto Raptors on February 27, 2009, scoring 45 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. This marked his 49th career 40-point game and helped the Suns secure a 133-113 victory.
Shaquille O'Neal, playing for the Phoenix Suns, was outscored by Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, 21-19. O'Neal, acknowledging his age, stated his role was no longer to outscore younger players and expressed frustration with being double-teamed throughout the game. He also engaged in a war of words with Magic coach Stan Van Gundy regarding flopping, with O'Neal claiming Van Gundy had been flopping his whole career as a coach.
Shaquille O'Neal posted a YouTube video challenging kickboxer and mixed martial artist Choi Hong-man to a mixed martial arts rules bout. Choi responded that he would accept the challenge.
Shaquille O'Neal was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, $500,000, and a 2010 second-round draft pick. Upon joining the Cavaliers, O'Neal famously declared his mission to 'Win a Ring for the King,' referencing LeBron James, the team's star player.
Shaquille O'Neal guest hosted a live broadcast of WWE's Monday Night Raw, where he got into a physical altercation with seven-foot-tall wrestler Big Show.
Shaquille O'Neal's reality show "Shaq Vs.", where he competed against other athletes in their respective sports, premiered on ABC.
Shaunie Nelson filed an intent to divorce from Shaquille O'Neal, citing irreconcilable differences, despite a previous reconciliation.
By the end of the 2010-11 season, Shaquille O'Neal was the third-ranked player of all time in free throws taken, having attempted 11,252 in 1,207 games. Despite his large number of attempts, he held a career average of 52.7%, leading opponents to employ the "Hack-a-Shaq" strategy to exploit this weakness.
Shaquille O'Neal began dating reality TV star Nicole "Hoopz" Alexander. The couple resided in O'Neal's home in Sudbury, Massachusetts.
Shaquille O'Neal started playing for the Boston Celtics for what would be his final season in the NBA.
Shaquille O'Neal was featured as an unlockable character in "UFC Undisputed 2010".
Until 2010, Shaquille O'Neal held the distinction of being the last active American basketball player to have won a gold medal at the FIBA World Cup.
During a game against the Boston Celtics, Shaquille O'Neal sustained a severe right thumb injury while attempting a shot. The injury required surgery on March 1st and forced O'Neal to miss a significant portion of the season, though he managed to return in time for the playoffs.
Shaquille O'Neal was sued by his personal IT technician, Shawn Darling, who alleged O'Neal tried to frame him with child pornography. Darling also accused O'Neal of hacking, deleting voicemails, and using law enforcement contacts for personal gains.
The Boston Celtics announced the signing of Shaquille O'Neal to a two-year contract at the veteran minimum salary, totaling $2.8 million. O'Neal's arrival was driven by Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck's recognition of his competitive spirit fueled by Kobe Bryant's championship wins. Celtics coach Doc Rivers agreed to the signing with the condition that O'Neal wouldn't receive preferential treatment or disrupt team dynamics.
Shaquille O'Neal was formally introduced as a member of the Boston Celtics and chose to wear the number 36.
During an interview at UFC 118 in Boston, Shaquille O'Neal reiterated his desire to fight Choi Hong-man in a mixed martial arts bout.
Shaquille O'Neal conducts the Boston Pops Orchestra at the Boston Symphony Hall.
Shaquille O'Neal and Shaunie Nelson's divorce was finalized. O'Neal takes responsibility for the separation, acknowledging his own mistakes and "greed."
Shaquille O'Neal became a Freemason, joining the Widow's Son Lodge No. 28 in Boston. He is specifically a Prince Hall Freemason.
Shaquille O'Neal's 2011 season was marred by various injuries to his right leg, including knee, calf, hip, and Achilles issues, forcing him to miss a significant number of games. Despite attempts to return and contribute, O'Neal's playing time was limited, and the Celtics were ultimately eliminated from the playoffs by the Miami Heat.
Shaquille O'Neal took to social media, using Twitter to announce his retirement from professional basketball after 19 seasons.
Shaquille O'Neal held a press conference at his home in Orlando, Florida, to formally announce his retirement from the NBA.
Shaquille O'Neal joined Turner Network Television (TNT) as an analyst for NBA basketball games, joining Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley.
O'Neal receives his Doctor of Education degree in Human Resource Development from Barry University, with his capstone topic being "The Duality of Humor and Aggression in Leadership Styles".
Shaquille O'Neal was recognized as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans.
Shaquille O'Neal and reality TV star Nicole "Hoopz" Alexander ended their relationship after dating for two years.
Shaquille O'Neal made a guest appearance on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Impact Wrestling program, participating in a backstage segment with Hulk Hogan.
Shaquille O'Neal became a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings, venturing into the business side of basketball.
Shaquille O'Neal had a voice-over role in the film "The Smurfs 2".
Shaquille O'Neal publicly endorsed Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for his reelection campaign, even appearing in a television advertisement for Christie.
Shaquille O'Neal's stepfather, Phillip Arthur Harrison, passed away, leading to a softening in O'Neal's feelings towards his biological father.
The Los Angeles Lakers retired Shaquille O'Neal's number 34 jersey.
Shaquille O'Neal became a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings.
Shaquille O'Neal's stepfather, Philip Arthur Harrison, passed away due to a heart attack.
Shaquille O'Neal began dating model Laticia Rolle, who is originally from Gardner, Massachusetts.
Shaquille O'Neal provided the voice for an animated version of himself in "Uncle Grandpa" (episode "Perfect Kid") and "The Lego Movie".
A fan of the New Jersey Devils, Shaquille O'Neal performed the ceremonial first puck drop and drove a Zamboni during a game between the Devils and the Florida Panthers.
Shaquille O'Neal posted a photo on Instagram appearing to mock Jahmel Binion, who suffers from Ectodermal dysplasia. O'Neal later apologized publicly and claimed to have befriended Binion.
Shareef O'Neal, son of Shaquille, gained attention for his basketball skills in high school. He was noted for his athleticism and shooting range, contrasting with his father's playing style. Shareef later played college basketball for UCLA and LSU.
Shaquille O'Neal was sworn in as a reserve officer for the Doral, Florida police force.
Shaquille O'Neal invested in technology startup Loyale3 Holdings Inc., a San Francisco brokerage firm that allows companies to sell a portion of their IPOs directly to small investors and enables investors to regularly buy small amounts of shares in already public companies.
While promoting Reebok in South Korea, Shaquille O'Neal joined the cast of the South Korean variety show "Off to School", where celebrities attend high school as students for three days.
Favoring franchising for its simplicity and proven success, Shaquille O'Neal purchased a Krispy Kreme location in Atlanta and became the company's global spokesperson. He has also owned and sold Five Guys restaurants, owns Auntie Anne's restaurants, car washes, health clubs, a movie theater, and the Big Chicken sandwich brand.
Jahmel Binion withdrew his lawsuit against Shaquille O'Neal after reaching a settlement agreement.
Shaquille O'Neal acquired a 14.3-acre, two-house compound in McDonough, Georgia, for $1.15 million. This property is situated approximately 30 miles southeast of Atlanta.
Shaquille O'Neal was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
The Miami Heat announced they would be retiring Shaquille O'Neal's number 32 jersey during the 2016-2017 season.
Shaquille O'Neal reconciled with his biological father, Joe Toney, for the first time, marking a significant moment in their relationship.
Shaquille O'Neal made his professional wrestling debut at WrestleMania 32, participating in the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. He eliminated Damien Sandow and had a confrontation with Big Show before being eliminated himself.
Years later, in September 2016, Shaquille O'Neal reflected on his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, expressing his belief that they would have won a championship in 2010 had he not suffered a hand injury caused by Glen Davis. He lamented the missed opportunity and the subsequent playoff loss to the Boston Celtics.
Shaquille O'Neal was sworn in as a sheriff's deputy in Jonesboro, Georgia, as part of the Clayton County, Georgia Sheriff's Department, setting the county record for tallest sheriff's deputy.
The Miami Heat officially retired Shaquille O'Neal's number 32 jersey at halftime during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers. This made O'Neal one of only 32 athletes in American professional sports history to have his jersey retired by multiple teams.
A trial court ruled that Shawn Darling's lawsuit against Shaquille O'Neal was not filed "in good faith" and stemmed from an extortion attempt. Darling failed to provide substantial evidence for his claims.
Shaquille O'Neal was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame, recognizing his contributions to international basketball.
A proposed match between Shaquille O'Neal and Big Show for WrestleMania 33 was cancelled. Initially accepted by both, the cancellation was attributed to monetary disagreements and scheduling issues.
O'Neal releases a diss track in response to LaVar Ball's claims that he and his son LaMelo could beat O'Neal and his son Shareef in a basketball game.
Shaquille O'Neal, in partnership with Medium Rare, created Shaq's Fun House, an annual combination music festival, circus, and carnival featuring celebrity DJs and performers.
The sequel to Shaquille O'Neal's fighting game, "Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn", was released.
Shaquille O'Neal and model Laticia Rolle ended their relationship after dating for about four years.
Shaquille O'Neal was named the general manager of Kings Guard Gaming, the Sacramento Kings' NBA 2K League affiliate.
Shaquille O'Neal joined the Papa John's board of directors, invested in nine stores in the Atlanta area, and became the company's spokesperson as part of a three-year contract. The following year, Papa John's introduced the Shaq-a-Roni pizza dedicated to O'Neal.
Shaquille O'Neal participated in a virtual rally for then-presidential candidate Joe Biden and voted for the first time in the 2020 presidential election.
Jade Cargill interrupted Cody Rhodes on AEW Dynamite, teasing the arrival of Shaquille O'Neal in All Elite Wrestling (AEW). O'Neal later made cameo appearances on Being The Elite and was confirmed to have been backstage at recent AEW tapings.
Shaquille O'Neal became a paid spokesperson for FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange.
The litigation between Shaquille O'Neal and Shawn Darling concluded with the court ruling in favor of O'Neal, granting him $412,914.50 in legal fees.
Shaquille O'Neal made his AEW in-ring debut on the AEW Dynamite titled The Crossroads, teaming with Jade Cargill to defeat Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet. During the match, O'Neal paid tribute to Brodie Lee and was driven through two tables by Cody Rhodes.
Shaquille O'Neal was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
O'Neal performs as DJ Diesel at the 2021 Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas.
In honor of the NBA's 75th anniversary, The Athletic ranked Shaquille O'Neal as the 8th greatest player in NBA history. This ranking came alongside coach Phil Jackson's statement that O'Neal underachieved in his career and could have been the MVP for 10 consecutive seasons.
Shaquille O'Neal ended his tenure as a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings.
Shaquille O'Neal is among the five wealthiest NBA players, with a net worth of $400 million. His investments include stocks in companies like General Electric, Apple, and PepsiCo, often choosing companies he has a personal connection with. O'Neal has also been active in real estate, including plans to assist Orlando homeowners facing foreclosure by buying their mortgages and selling the homes back to them under more affordable terms.
Shaquille O'Neal launched his Halloween-themed event, Shaqtoberfest, in Long Beach.
Shaquille O'Neal sold his stake in the Sacramento Kings.
The U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Securities Act of 1933 applies to targeted solicitation using social media, relevant to a lawsuit against Bitconnect, a cryptocurrency exchange. This ruling set a precedent for future cases, including potential lawsuits against O'Neal for his promotion of FTX.
Shaquille O'Neal signed a long-term contract extension with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports to continue his role as a host on "Inside the NBA".
Shaquille O'Neal, who was a paid spokesperson for FTX, lost his personal stake in the company when it filed for bankruptcy, wiping out billions of dollars in customer funds.
Chael Sonnen revealed that he had tried to arrange a grappling match between Shaquille O'Neal and multiple-time UFC world champion Georges St-Pierre.
O'Neal releases his first single as DJ Diesel, "Bang Your Head", in collaboration with Hairitage, from his debut album "Gorilla Warfare".
Shaquille O'Neal purchased his first private jet, a $27 million Bombardier Challenger 650, customized with his iconic "Dunkman" logo on the tail.
Shaquille O'Neal was named Reebok's President of Basketball.
The Orlando Magic retired Shaquille O'Neal's number 32 jersey, marking the first time the franchise had retired a player's number. O'Neal became the third NBA player, along with Wilt Chamberlain and Pete Maravich, to have his number retired by three teams.
Shaquille O'Neal was announced as a co-host, along with Gina Rodriguez, for the upcoming ABC game show "Lucky 13".