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 Rashaun O'Neal, or Shaq, is a retired American professional basketball player and current sports analyst. Standing at 7-foot-1-inch and weighing 325 pounds, he played center for six NBA teams over his 19-year career. O'Neal is a four-time NBA champion widely considered one of the greatest basketball players and centers in history.
1989: Record-Breaking Rebounds
During the 1989 season, Shaquille O'Neal achieved a state record of 791 rebounds while playing at Robert G. Cole High School, showcasing his early basketball dominance.
1992: Drafted by Orlando Magic
In 1992, Shaquille O'Neal was drafted first overall by the Orlando Magic, marking the start of his NBA career.
1992: Shaquille O'Neal's rookie season
The 2009 NBA playoffs was the first time since O'Neal's rookie season in 1992-93 that he did not participate in the playoffs.
November 20, 1993: First Triple-Double
On November 20, 1993, Shaquille O'Neal recorded the first triple-double of his career against the New Jersey Nets, with 24 points, 28 rebounds, and 15 blocks.
1993: Debut Rap Album Shaq Diesel
In 1993, O'Neal released his debut rap album, Shaq Diesel, which received platinum certification from the RIAA.
1993: Broke Backboard Supports
In 1993, during his first season in the NBA, O'Neal's powerful dunks broke the steel backboard supports on two occasions, prompting the league to reinforce backboards.
1994: Improved Scoring Average
In 1994, O'Neal improved his scoring average to 29.4 points and led the NBA in field goal percentage at 60%.
1994: FIBA World Championship MVP
In 1994, O'Neal was named MVP of the FIBA World Championship, where he led Dream Team II to a gold medal with an 8-0 record, averaging 18 points and 8.5 rebounds.
1994: Named to Dream Team III
In 1994, O'Neal was named to the Dream Team III roster, along with Reggie Miller.
1994: Led NBA in Scoring
In 1994-95, O'Neal led the NBA in scoring with a 29.3 point average.
1995: O'Neal becomes a Free Agent
After the 1995–96 NBA season O'Neal became a free agent and there were doubts on whether he would resign with the Magic.
1995: Made One 3-point Shot
During the 1995-96 NBA season, O'Neal made his only career three-point shot while playing with the Orlando Magic.
1995: Injured for a Great Deal of the Season
During the 1995-96 season, Shaquille O'Neal was injured and missed 28 games. He averaged 26.6 points and 11 rebounds per game.
1995: NBA Finals Appearance
In 1995, O'Neal led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals, showcasing his early impact in the league.
1995: Guest Rapper on Michael Jackson's HIStory album
In 1995, O'Neal was featured alongside Michael Jackson as a guest rapper on "2 Bad", a song from Jackson's HIStory album.
1995: Appears in Pepsi Commercials
In 1995, Shaquille O'Neal appeared in several Pepsi commercials, including one that parodied shows like I Love Lucy, Bonanza, and Woody Woodpecker.
1996: Declined Further International Competition After 1996 Olympics
After the 1996 Olympics, O'Neal declined to play in international competition due to various reasons, including being overlooked for the 1999 FIBA AmeriCup squad.
1996: Swept by Bulls in Conference Finals
In 1996, despite a strong regular season, the Orlando Magic were swept by the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals.
1998: Led League in Field Goal Percentage
In 1998, Shaquille O'Neal led the league with a 58.4 field goal percentage, starting a four-season streak.
1999: Phil Jackson Hired
In 1999, prior to the 1999–2000 season, the Los Angeles Lakers hired Phil Jackson as head coach, and the team's fortunes soon changed.
March 6, 2000: Career-high 61 points on his birthday
On March 6, 2000, Shaquille O'Neal celebrated his 28th birthday by scoring a career-high 61 points, along with 23 rebounds, in a win against the Los Angeles Clippers.
2000: First NBA Championship with the Lakers
In 2000, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant won their first NBA Championship together with the Lakers. O'Neal was named MVP of the NBA Finals.
2000: Named Regular Season MVP
In 2000, Shaquille O'Neal was voted the regular season Most Valuable Player. Also in 2000, O'Neal's commitment to defense, influenced by Jackson, resulted in his first All-Defensive Team selection.
2000: Declined Participation in 2000 Olympics
Shaquille O'Neal declined to participate in the 2000 Olympics, stating that two gold medals were enough for him.
2001: Second Consecutive NBA Championship
In 2001, O'Neal and the Lakers secured their second consecutive NBA championship, cementing their dynasty.
2001: Featured in Aaron Carter's Single
In 2001, O'Neal was featured in Aaron Carter's hit single "That's How I Beat Shaq".
2001: Second NBA Championship with the Lakers
In 2001, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant won their second NBA Championship together with the Lakers. O'Neal was named MVP of the NBA Finals.
2001: Most Games Since 2001
In 2004-2005 O'Neal played in 73 games, his most since 2001. With O'Neal, the Heat claimed the best record in the Eastern Conference in 2004-05 with 59 wins.
2002: Third NBA Championship with the Lakers
In 2002, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant won their third NBA Championship together with the Lakers. O'Neal was named MVP of the NBA Finals.
2002: Third Consecutive NBA Championship
In 2002, the Lakers, led by O'Neal, achieved their third straight NBA championship, further solidifying their legacy.
2002: Declined Participation in 2002 FIBA World Championship
Shaquille O'Neal chose not to play in the 2002 FIBA World Championship.
2003: Recruitment of Karl Malone and Gary Payton
In 2003, O'Neal assisted in recruiting Karl Malone and Gary Payton to the Lakers, persuading them to take pay cuts for a chance to win an NBA championship.
July 14, 2004: Trade to the 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.
2004: Traded to Miami Heat
In 2004, Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat, marking a new chapter in his career.
2004: Rejected Offer to Play in 2004 Olympics
Shaquille O'Neal rejected an offer to play in the 2004 Olympics.
March 2, 2005: Honorary U.S. Deputy Marshal
On March 2, 2005, Shaquille O'Neal was given an honorary U.S. Deputy Marshal title and named the spokesman for the Safe Surfin' Foundation.
August 2005: Signs 5-year extension with the Heat
In August 2005, O'Neal signed a 5-year extension with the Miami Heat for $100 million.
December 8, 2005: Sworn in as Miami Beach Reserve Officer
On December 8, 2005, O'Neal was sworn in as a Miami Beach reserve officer and helped police track down suspects in a hate crime.
2005: Playoff Quip at Erick Dampier
During the 2005 NBA playoffs, O'Neal compared his poor performance to Erick Dampier's scoreless game, inspiring many references by announcers during those playoffs.
2005: League Leader in Field Goal Percentage
O'Neal finished the 2005–06 season as the league leader in field goal percentage.
April 11, 2006: Second career triple-double
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.
September 2006: Participated in a Police Raid
In September 2006, O'Neal, as an "honorary deputy", took part in a raid on a home in rural Bedford County, Virginia.
2006: Fourth NBA Championship
In 2006, O'Neal won his fourth NBA championship with the Miami Heat, demonstrating his continued success.
2006: Meeting Dampier in the NBA Finals
In 2006, Shaquille O'Neal met Erick Dampier in the NBA Finals.
2006: Jordan Farmar drafted
In 2006, the Lakers used the draft choice acquired in the Shaquille O'Neal trade to select Jordan Farmar.
2006: Declined Invitation to 2006-2008 US Preliminary Roster
Shaquille O'Neal initially showed interest in joining the 2006-2008 US preliminary roster but ultimately declined the invitation.
2007: Played for the Miami Heat
During the 2007-08 season, O'Neal played 33 games for the Miami Heat, averaging 14.2 points per game before being traded.
2007: Traded to Phoenix Suns
Midway through the 2007-2008 season, Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Phoenix Suns.
February 2008: Altercation with Pat Riley and Trade
In February 2008, O'Neal had an altercation with coach Pat Riley during practice over tardiness, leading to a face-to-face argument. Riley decided to trade O'Neal shortly after the incident.
February 2008: Acquired by Phoenix Suns
In February 2008, the Phoenix Suns acquired O'Neal from the Miami Heat in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks.
February 20, 2008: Suns Debut
On February 20, 2008, O'Neal made his debut for the Phoenix Suns against his former team, the Lakers, scoring 15 points and grabbing 9 rebounds.
2008: Trade to Phoenix Suns
During the 2007-2008 season, Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Phoenix Suns.
2008: Improved Performance in 2008-09 Season
O'Neal's performance improved during the 2008-09 season, averaging 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in the first half of the season, which helped the Suns.
2008: Declined Invitation to 2006-2008 US Preliminary Roster
Shaquille O'Neal initially showed interest in joining the 2006-2008 US preliminary roster but ultimately declined the invitation.
February 27, 2009: 45-Point Game Against 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.
June 25, 2009: Traded to Cleveland Cavaliers
On June 25, 2009, O'Neal was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, cash, and a draft pick, and expressed his goal to win a championship for LeBron James.
2009: Traded to Cleveland Cavaliers
In the 2009-2010 season, Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
August 4, 2010: Signed with the Boston Celtics
On August 4, 2010, the Boston Celtics announced they had signed O'Neal, with coach Doc Rivers setting conditions for his behavior and treatment within the team.
August 10, 2010: Introduced by the Celtics
On August 10, 2010, O'Neal was introduced by the Celtics and chose the number 36 for his jersey.
2010: Third Ranked Player All-Time in Free Throws Taken
As of the 2010-11 season, O'Neal was the third-ranked player all-time in free throws taken, with 11,252 attempts in 1,207 games.
2010: Plays for Cleveland Cavaliers
During the 2009-2010 season Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
July 14, 2011: Joins TNT as NBA Analyst
On July 14, 2011, O'Neal announced he would join TNT as an analyst on its NBA basketball games.
September 2013: Becomes 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
In 2013, Shaquille O'Neal became a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings, expanding his influence beyond playing basketball.
January 20, 2015: Sworn in as Reserve Officer in Doral, Florida
On January 20, 2015, O'Neal was sworn in as a reserve officer for Doral, Florida's police force.
June 2015: Invests in Technology Startup Loyale3 Holdings Inc.
In June 2015, Shaquille O'Neal invested in technology startup Loyale3 Holdings Inc., a San Francisco brokerage firm.
December 2016: Sworn in as Sheriff's Deputy in Jonesboro, Georgia
In December 2016, O'Neal was sworn in as a sheriff's deputy in Jonesboro, Georgia, as part of Clayton County, Georgia Sheriff's Department.
2016: Purchases Krispy Kreme Location in Atlanta
In late 2016, Shaquille O'Neal purchased the Krispy Kreme location at 295 Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta, also becoming the global spokesperson for the company.
April 2018: Named General Manager of Kings Guard Gaming
In April 2018, Shaquille O'Neal was named the general manager of Kings Guard Gaming, the Kings' NBA 2K League affiliate.
2018: Creates Shaq's Fun House
In 2018, Shaquille O'Neal created Shaq's Fun House, a combination music festival, circus, and carnival, in partnership with Medium Rare.
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.
January 2022: Sells Stake in Sacramento Kings
In January 2022, Shaquille O'Neal sold his stake in the Sacramento Kings.
October 2022: Signs 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.
June 7, 2023: Release of First Single as DJ Diesel
On June 7, 2023, O'Neal released his first single as DJ Diesel titled "Bang Your Head" in collaboration with Hairitage, from his debut album Gorilla Warfare.
October 2023: Named Reebok's President of Basketball
In October 2023, Shaquille O'Neal was named Reebok's President of Basketball.
May 3, 2024: Announced as Co-Host of ABC's "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" Series Premiere
On July 18, 2024, the game show "Lucky 13", co-hosted by Shaquille O'Neal, premiered on ABC.
September 2024: Launches Shaq-a-licious XL Gummies
In September 2024, Shaquille O'Neal launched the Shaq-a-licious XL Gummies line of oversized gummy candy in partnership with The Hershey Company.
December 24, 2024: Verse on Redman's Track
On December 24, 2024, Shaquille O'Neal contributed a verse to the rapper Redman's track "Lite It Up" from the Muddy Waters Too album.
