It was not a complete shocker, when the 7’1” giant and once dominant center NBA, Shaquille O’Neal formally announced his retirement last month.
He only played 37 games in Boston Celtics on 2010-11 season. As he watched helplessly most of the time in the sideline due to toe injuries, finally, he officially tender his retirement.
Shaq has very colorful 19-year career as a professional basketball player. He entered NBA as the first overall pick in 1992. He won the Rookie of the Year in 1992-93. Shaq established a dynasty with his LA Laker teammate Kobe Bryant by winning three years in a row from 2000 to 2002. In 2004, he was traded to Miami Heat wherein he won another championship ring in 2006.
As an individual player, O’Neal gathered so many awards and honors in his illustrious career. Other than being Rookie of the year, he won the MVP award in 2000; garner Three Finals MVP trophies and a two time scoring champion.
Records are meant to be broken but Shaq cemented his legacy as league’s fifth in all time scoring. Leading the records are Abdul-Jabaar, Karl Malone, Jordan and Chamberlain. It was an amazing record that any active player could only dream of.
Shaq’s life after basketball is not going back to showbiz or rapping but basketball after all. As days ago, O’Neal announced a more shocking pronouncement than his retirement that he will be joining the team of (TNT) or Turner Network Television on “The NBA on TNT” as a commentator. The NBA on TNT is TNT’s coverage of the NBA. Shaq will be teaming up with studio hosts Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith.
We won’t be seeing Shaq’s dominance on the hard court anymore, nor his free throws. But definite, we will be hearing more from him soon. *