Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Shaquille O'Neal
Discover the career path of Shaquille O'Neal, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Shaquille O'Neal, or Shaq, is a retired American professional basketball player and current sports analyst. Standing at 7'1" and weighing 325 pounds, he played center for six NBA teams over a 19-year career. He is a four-time NBA champion and is considered one of basketball's greatest players and centers.
1992: Drafted by Orlando Magic
In 1992, Shaquille O'Neal was drafted by the Orlando Magic with the first overall pick in the NBA draft.
1992: Playoff Absence
In 1992–93, O'Neal did not participate in the playoffs during his rookie season.
1993: Backboard-Breaking Dunks and League Adjustments
In 1993, During O'Neal's first season in the NBA, his powerful dunks broke steel backboard supports on two occasions, prompting the league to increase brace strength and stability of backboards for the 1993–94 season.
1994: Dream Team II and FIBA World Championship MVP
In 1994, O'Neal was named MVP of the FIBA World Championship, leading Dream Team II to a gold medal with an 8-0 record. He averaged 18 points and 8.5 rebounds, recording two double-doubles.
1994: Selection to Dream Team III
In 1994, O'Neal was one of two players from the 1994 Dream Team II roster named to the Dream Team III.
1994: Releases Rap Album Shaq Fu: The Return
In 1994, Shaquille O'Neal voiced his feelings of disdain for Joe Toney in the song "Biological Didn't Bother" on his rap album, Shaq Fu: The Return.
1994: All-NBA 3rd Team
In 1994, Shaquille O'Neal was voted into the All-Star game and made the All-NBA 3rd Team. The Magic made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
1995: Rare Three-Point Shot
In 1995, During the 1995–96 NBA season, O'Neal made one three-point shot with the Orlando Magic, one of only 22 he attempted throughout his career.
1995: Pepsi Commercial Appearance
In 1995, Shaquille O'Neal appeared in a Pepsi commercial which parodied shows such as I Love Lucy, Bonanza, and Woody Woodpecker.
1995: NBA Finals with Magic
In 1995, Shaquille O'Neal led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals.
1995: First NBA Finals Appearance
In the 1994-95 season, Shaquille O'Neal led the Magic to their first-ever playoff series win against the Boston Celtics and helped them reach the NBA Finals in 1995.
1995: Free Agent
Shaquille O'Neal became a free agent after the 1995-96 NBA season.
1996: Decline of International Competition
After his 1996 Olympics experience, he declined to play in international competition.
1996: Gold Medal at Atlanta Olympics
In 1996, O'Neal won another gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics with a perfect 8-0 record. He averaged 9.3 points and 5.3 rebounds. O'Neal was upset about coach Lenny Wilkens playing David Robinson more minutes in the final game.
1996: Swept by Bulls in Conference Finals
In 1996, despite O'Neal's injuries, the Orlando Magic finished with a regular season record of 60-22, but were swept by the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals.
1996: Olympics in Atlanta
In the summer of 1996, Shaquille O'Neal was named to the United States Olympic basketball team and was part of the gold medal-winning team at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. O'Neal faced questions about his value and role model status.
1998: Lakers fell to the Jazz
The Lakers finished the season 61–21, first in the Pacific Division, and were the second seed in the western conference during the 1998 NBA Playoffs. After defeating the Portland Trail Blazers and Seattle SuperSonics in the first two rounds, the Lakers again fell to the Jazz, this time in a 4–0 sweep.
1999: Pre-Season Fortune Changes
In 1999, prior to the 1999-2000 season, the Los Angeles Lakers hired Phil Jackson as head coach, which soon changed the team's fortune
1999: Lakers hire Phil Jackson
In 1999, the Los Angeles Lakers hired Phil Jackson as head coach, changing the team's fortunes. Jackson challenged O'Neal, stating that the NBA's MVP trophy should be named after him upon retirement.
1999: Swept by San Antonio Spurs
The Lakers finished with a 31–19 record during the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season. Although they made the playoffs, they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. The Spurs would go on to win their first NBA title in 1999.
March 6, 2000: O'Neal Scored a Career-High 61 Points
On March 6, 2000, his 28th birthday, O'Neal scored a career-high 61 points with 23 rebounds in a 123–103 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
2000: Lakers Win NBA Title
In 2000, O'Neal and Bryant, using Jackson's triangle offense, led the Lakers to their first of three consecutive NBA titles.
2000: Decision to Forgo 2000 Olympics
In 2000, O'Neal forwent an opportunity to participate in the Olympics, stating that two gold medals were enough.
2000: O'Neal Voted MVP
In 2000, O'Neal was voted the regular season's Most Valuable Player, won the scoring title, finished second in rebounds and third in blocked shots, and was selected for the All-Defensive Second Team after Jackson's influence led to a renewed commitment to defense.
2000: NBA Championship with Lakers
In 2000, Shaquille O'Neal won his first NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.
2000: Phil Jackson Challenges O'Neal
In 2000, newly hired Lakers head coach Phil Jackson challenged O'Neal to become an MVP caliber player.
2001: Lakers Win NBA Title
In 2001, O'Neal and Bryant, using Jackson's triangle offense, led the Lakers to their second of three consecutive NBA titles.
2001: NBA Championship with Lakers
In 2001, Shaquille O'Neal secured another NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.
2002: Lakers Win NBA Title
In 2002, O'Neal and Bryant, using Jackson's triangle offense, led the Lakers to their third of three consecutive NBA titles.
2002: Opting Out of 2002 FIBA World Championship
In 2002, O'Neal chose not to play in the FIBA World Championship.
2002: NBA Championship with Lakers
In 2002, Shaquille O'Neal won his third consecutive NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.
2003: Lakers Fail to Reach Finals
In 2003, at the end of the season, the Lakers fell to the fifth seed and failed to reach the NBA Finals.
2003: Recruitment of Malone and Payton & Contract Extension Dispute
In 2003, for the 2003-04 season, O'Neal assisted in recruiting Karl Malone and Gary Payton to the Lakers, who sacrificed larger salaries for a chance to win a championship. O'Neal sought a contract extension with a pay raise, leading to tension with the Lakers owner and increasing feud with Bryant.
July 14, 2004: Traded to Miami Heat
On July 14, 2004, O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat for Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, and a future first-round draft choice. O'Neal switched to number 32 and promised a championship to Miami, dubbing Dwyane Wade "Flash".
2004: Rejection of 2004 Olympics Offer
In 2004, O'Neal rejected an offer to play in the Olympics.
2004: Traded to Miami Heat
In 2004, Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat.
2004: Loss in NBA Finals and Trade Demand
In 2004, the Lakers lost to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals. Subsequently, O'Neal, angered by comments from Lakers' management and the departure of coach Phil Jackson, demanded a trade amid rising tensions.
June 2005: Funeral Expenses for George Mikan
In June 2005, Shaquille O'Neal offered to pay for the funeral expenses of Hall of Fame center George Mikan, who O'Neal considered to be a major influence, and the family accepted.
August 2005: Signed a 5-Year Extension with the Heat
In August 2005, O'Neal signed a 5-year extension with the Miami Heat for $100 million.
2005: Injury and Coaching Change
During the 2005-06 season, O'Neal injured his right ankle and missed 18 games. Upon his return, coach Stan Van Gundy resigned, and Pat Riley took over. O'Neal criticized Van Gundy and noted that Riley managed him well by limiting his minutes.
2005: Reality series on ESPN
In 2005, Shaquille O'Neal had a reality series called Shaquille on ESPN.
2005: O'Neal's Performance
In the 2005-06 season, O'Neal helped Miami reach their first-ever NBA Finals.
April 11, 2006: Triple-Double against the Toronto Raptors
On April 11, 2006, O'Neal recorded his second career triple-double against the Toronto Raptors with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high 10 assists and finished the 2005-06 season as the league leader in field goal percentage.
2006: Initial Interest then Decline for 2006-2008 US Roster
Although initially interested, O'Neal eventually declined the invitation to play for the 2006-2008 US preliminary roster.
2006: NBA Championship with Heat
In 2006, Shaquille O'Neal won his fourth NBA championship with the Miami Heat.
2006: Heat swept by Bulls in playoffs
In 2006, facing the Bulls in the first round of the 2006-07 NBA playoffs, the Heat were swept, marking the first time in 50 years a defending champion was swept in the opening round and the first time in 13 years O'Neal didn't advance to the second round. During the season, O'Neal reached 25,000 career points.
2007: Traded to Phoenix Suns
During the 2007-2008 season, Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Phoenix Suns.
2007: Struggles and Career Lows
In 2007, O'Neal faced a rough start to the season, experiencing career lows in points, rebounds, and blocks. His role diminished, and he struggled with fouls. This also marked the end of his 14-year All-Star appearance streak.
2007: Playing for the Miami Heat
In 2007, O'Neal played 33 games for the Miami Heat, starting all of them and averaging 14.2 points per game before being traded.
2007: Playoff Elimination
In 2007, The Phoenix Suns aimed to limit Tim Duncan following their six-game elimination by the Spurs in the NBA Playoffs. Despite O'Neal's presence, the Suns were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs in five games. O'Neal averaged 15.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game during the series.
February 2008: Altercation with Riley and Trade Decision
In February 2008, O'Neal had an altercation with coach Pat Riley during practice, leading to Riley's decision to trade him. The incident stemmed from Riley ordering a tardy Jason Williams to leave practice, resulting in a face-to-face argument with O'Neal poking Riley in the chest.
February 2008: Acquisition by Phoenix Suns
In February 2008, the Phoenix Suns acquired O'Neal from the Miami Heat, who had a 9-37 record. The Heat received Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks in exchange.
February 20, 2008: Suns Debut
On February 20, 2008, O'Neal debuted with the Phoenix Suns against his former team, the Lakers. He scored 15 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in a 130-124 loss. O'Neal took blame for the loss, citing a lack of tune with his new teammates and requesting 4 to 5 days to adjust.
2008: Improved Season
During the first half of the 2008-09 season, O'Neal averaged 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks, contributing to the Suns' 23-18 record and second-place division ranking.
2008: Traded to Phoenix Suns
Midway through the 2007-2008 season Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Phoenix Suns.
2008: Decline of Invitation to 2006-2008 US Roster
O'Neal eventually declined the invitation to play for the 2006-2008 US preliminary roster.
February 27, 2009: 45-Point Game vs Raptors
On February 27, 2009, O'Neal scored 45 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a game against the Toronto Raptors, marking his 49th career 40-point game. The Suns beat the Raptors 133-113.
March 3, 2009: Matchup Against Dwight Howard
On March 3, 2009, in a game against the Orlando Magic, O'Neal was outscored by Dwight Howard 21-19. O'Neal made comments about being too old to outscore younger players. He also discussed being double-teamed and addressed Stan Van Gundy's comments about his flopping, stating that it would describe Van Gundy's coaching.
June 25, 2009: Trade to Cavaliers
On June 25, 2009, O'Neal was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, $500,000, and a 2010 second-round draft pick. Upon arriving in Cleveland, O'Neal expressed his goal to "Win a Ring for the King," referring to LeBron James.
August 18, 2009: Shaq Vs. Premieres on ABC
On August 18, 2009, Shaq Vs., a reality show starring Shaquille O'Neal competing against other athletes in their own sports, premiered on ABC.
2009: All-NBA Third Team Selection
In 2009, O'Neal was named to the All-NBA Third Team despite the Phoenix Suns notifying him that he might be traded to cut costs. This was the first time since his rookie season in 1992-93 that he did not participate in the playoffs.
2009: Traded to Cleveland Cavaliers
In the 2009-2010 season Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
August 4, 2010: Signing with the Celtics
On August 4, 2010, the Boston Celtics announced that they had signed O'Neal to a two-year contract at the veteran minimum salary of $2.8 million after Wyc Grousbeck saw an opportunity to acquire O'Neal. O'Neal wanted the mid-level exception, but the Celtics gave it to Jermaine O'Neal.
August 10, 2010: Introduction by Celtics
On August 10, 2010, O'Neal was introduced by the Boston Celtics and chose the jersey number 36.
2010: Last Active American FIBA Gold Medalist
Before 2010, O'Neal was the last active American player to have a gold medal from the FIBA World Cup.
2010: Plays for Boston Celtics
During the 2010-2011 season, Shaquille O'Neal played for the Boston Celtics.
June 1, 2011: Retirement Announcement via Twitter
On June 1, 2011, O'Neal announced his retirement via a short video on Twitter after 19 years in the NBA.
June 3, 2011: Official Retirement Announcement
On June 3, 2011, O'Neal held a press conference at his home in Orlando to officially announce his retirement.
July 14, 2011: Joins TNT as NBA Analyst
On July 14, 2011, Shaquille O'Neal announced he would join Turner Network Television (TNT) as an analyst for NBA basketball games, alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley.
2011: Injuries and Limited Play
In 2011, O'Neal missed many games due to injuries to his right leg. After missing 27 games, he returned on April 3 but only played 5 minutes due to a strained right calf. He missed the first round of the playoffs and was limited to 12 minutes in two games during the second round, where the Heat eliminated the Celtics.
September 2013: Minority Owner of Sacramento Kings
In September 2013, Shaquille O'Neal became a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings professional basketball team.
2013: Minority Owner of Sacramento Kings
From 2013 to 2022, Shaquille O'Neal was a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings.
September 2016: Reflection on Cleveland Loss
In September 2016, O'Neal reflected on the Cavaliers' loss to the Boston Celtics in the 2009-10 playoffs, attributing it to his thumb injury and believing a healthy team would have won the championship that year.
April 2018: General Manager of Kings Guard Gaming
In April 2018, Shaquille O'Neal was named the general manager of Kings Guard Gaming, the Sacramento Kings' NBA 2K League affiliate.
2019: Joins Papa John's Board of Directors
In 2019, Shaquille O'Neal joined the Papa John's board of directors, invested in nine stores in the Atlanta area, and became the spokesperson for the company.
2021: Spokesperson for FTX
In 2021, Shaquille O'Neal was a paid spokesperson for FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange.
January 2022: Sells Stake in the Kings
In January 2022, Shaquille O'Neal sold his stake in the Sacramento Kings.
October 2022: Contract Extension with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports
In October 2022, Shaquille O'Neal signed a long-term contract extension with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports to continue as a host on Inside the NBA.
2022: End of Sacramento Kings Ownership
From 2013 to 2022, Shaquille O'Neal was a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings.
October 2023: Named President of Basketball for Reebok
In October 2023, Shaquille O'Neal was named Reebok's President of Basketball.
May 3, 2024: Named Co-Host of Lucky 13
On May 3, 2024, Shaquille O'Neal was announced as one of the co-hosts of the upcoming ABC game show Lucky 13.
July 18, 2024: Lucky 13 Premieres
On July 18, 2024, the ABC game show Lucky 13, co-hosted by Shaquille O'Neal, premiered.
September 2024: Shaq-a-licious XL Gummies Line Launched
In September 2024, Shaquille O'Neal launched the Shaq-a-licious XL Gummies line of oversized gummy candy in partnership with The Hershey Company.
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