Well, he’s one player who I have followed for his entire career. He’ll be missed.
He started playing NBA when I was in 7th grade…he had a LONG career!
I guess now he’ll have more time to focus on his films…umm I mean his music…umm I mean his video games…umm, one more season, please?
ISn’t Shaq a special deputy sheriff somewhere? Seems like I remember him being interested in law enforcement. Not that he’s going to be hurting for money in retirement or anything. Good for Shaq. I wish him a long and pleasant retirement.
Probably belongs in the top 3 or so of the Best Player Ever list.
Top 3 ever? That’s a bit steep. But I always enjoyed watching Shaq…especially at the free throw line.
He’s not even among the top 3 Lakers…
Meh, I don’t think so. Definitely one of the top centers, though.
Who are the best centers?
Wilt Chamberlain
Kareem Abdul Jabar
Hakeem
Bill Russell
Maybe then Shaq?
I’m a Rockets fan, and I wouldn’t put Hakeem above Shaq. Hakeem was much prettier to watch, but he wasn’t (quite) as completely impossible to stop as Shaq was in his prime. And Shaq’s prime was longer.
Top 3 ever? Wouldn’t you have to be able to make an eight foot jump shot to qualify for that?
Maybe he’ll finally make a sequel to Kazaam.
But he completely schooled Shaq the one time they met in the Finals.
And Father Time is STILL undefeated!
One of the best centers and most physically dominant players ever, and the biggest NBA personality to come along since Jordan. Maybe the biggest sports personality since Jordan period- he was bigger than sports. He was breaking down the last few years for sure (and sometimes he was a jerk during that time), but it’s a little amazing to think the NBA is going into a post-Shaq era. I remember how astonished I was the first time I saw this. And despite the jokes we all heard about his weight later in his career, the guy had some moves.
It also goes without saying he’s the king of nicknames, both for himself and for other players. I’m not sure who the competition is in that category.
He retired LAST year. 
At least he seemed to enjoy his paid vacation in Boston, even if it only hurt his legacy.
If Shaquille O’Neal wanted a paid vacation, he certainly could have found better ways to manage it than by ignoring his team doctor’s advice and rushing back onto the court to play for the Celtics rather than getting surgery.
I can’t really stand the guy personally, but the idea that at the tail end of a $300 million, 4-ring, open-and-shut Hall of Famer career, he was dogging it to steal one last $1 million paycheck from the Celtics is pretty insulting. He could have gotten paid more than that just to look into a camera with one eye and say ridiculous things about a couple of products.
I read a Sports Illustrated article a few months ago that said Shaq was offered $10 million to go play in Europe. Instead, he signed with the Celtics for pocket lint. It definitely wasn’t about the money.
Like the ICY HOT SLEEVE! (Those guys must be crushed today.) And yeah, Shaq definitely did not sign with Boston just to get another paycheck. He could’ve gotten more money from other teams. He was chasing another championship the same way he had been the last few seasons. When he was healthy early this season, it worked pretty well.
There was a Bill Simmons article on Espn.com somewhere where he mentioned this. The speculation was that after Kobe’s 5th ring, Shaq wanted to get even. It was a pretty good article, but I can’t find it now
When the Lakers won last year, Kobe made a point of saying he now had one more ring than Shaq. Shaq then signed a two-year contract with Boston, so I think it’s pretty clear what he had in mind. I do think Shaq also wanted the biggest possible going-away party with a lot of buildup, but it didn’t play out that way.
Incidentally Shaq and Kobe are fifth and sixth on the all-time scoring list. Assuming they play a full season next year and Kobe is healthy, he’ll pass Shaq in the middle of the year.
Hey Shaq: how’s my ass taste?