Shaquille O'Neal Appreciation Thread

[Lebron23]

This is probably his last NBA Season. Shaq is one of my favorite players of all time, and his fans would remember him as the most dominant Center in NBA History.

http://img2.allposters.com/images/153/421314.jpg

http://ryansarda.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/nba_a_shaquille_395.jpg

http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/si_online/covers/images/2001/0604_large.jpg

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2004/magazine/08/03/scorecard0809/p1_lakers.jpg



http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/si_online/covers/images/1992/1130_large.jpg

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/media/photo/2009-06/47337917.JPG

http://djbaker10.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/oneal_playfilegallery31.jpg

http://www.sportsofboston.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/072009_Shaq.jpg

http://blogs.bet.com/news/playahater/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/shaqsuns.jpg

http://nbavideostream.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/shaq-cavs-jersey.jpg

Accomplishments and Stats

4

[Alhazred]

Because no Shaq thread is complete without it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5jMOK87N7A

[Brunch@Five]

The best player I've ever witnessed in my lifetime and the most important figure in the NBA since MJ's first retirement. :applause:

[Brunch@Five]

Because no Shaq thread is complete without it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5jMOK87N7A

"He got hit with the shotclock ... that's a violation!" :oldlol: :oldlol:

[Jacks3]

in before shaqattack

[sbw19]

Sad to see him struggle nowadays, but not many can duplicate what Kareem had done. Last of the 90s old school centers. :cheers:

[Lebron23]

Sad to see him struggle nowadays, but not many can duplicate what Kareem had done. Last of the 90s old school centers. :cheers:


Kobe should induct Shaq in the 2015 NBA Hall of Fame.


:applause: :applause: :applause:

[J-Futuristic]

Shaq was my idol growing up as a kid. I hate the fact that he is on a team that I hate.

[ProfessorMurder]

Kobe should induct Shaq in the 2015 NBA Hall of Fame.


:applause: :applause: :applause:

Hahaha That'll happen.

[Rafael Delaget]

This is probably his last NBA Season.

He'll be playing with Durant in OKC next year.

[sbw19]

Kobe should induct Shaq in the 2015 NBA Hall of Fame.


:applause: :applause: :applause:

Not really sure which's more likely him or DRob doing that.

[Alhazred]

I actually remember watching him play in an Orlando jersey. It's been rough watching him age and deteriorate, but I still remember when averaging 26/12/3 was easy for him. I miss the dominant Shaq....

[bigkingsfan]

I will miss him, almost as much as the day Kobe retires.

[purple32gold]

thank you shaq for 3 rings and countless memories in the purple and gold. i remember the first time ever seeing him play in person. i had no idea human beings could get that big.

[purple32gold]

I actually remember watching him play in an Orlando jersey. It's been rough watching him age and deteriorate, but I still remember when averaging 26/12/3 was easy for him. I miss the dominant Shaq....
the crazy thing about shaq was that 26/12/3 was the norm for him...for like 13 or so years he was just filthy. only kareem matches that productivity for a C and as much as i LOVE the cap...the black cactus isn't too far behind.

[Huey Freeman]

DRob
It's The Admiral.

[Lakers13]

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

My favorite player All Time. I just wish he had some kind of work ethic, he could have been the best C ever hands down.

[ROCSteady]

Shaq is THE reason why I'm such a huge Lakers fan.

He was my idol for my childhood. Seeing such a massive man dominate other primo-built athletes sure was sumthin as a lil youngin. Esp. one who was kinda late bloomer physically. When he was traded from Orlando, I cried when my mom told me he left for LA. I remember that conversation vividly. I was in second grade.

I was heartbroken but I followed Shaq to LA. Glad I did because being a Redskins/Capitals/Wizards (Bullets) fan also has brought much heartache. The Lakers are my only championship team that I have been able to follow loyally since the Skins last won when I was 3.

Shaq's act has worn kinda thin sometomes off the court. However, I will NEVER forget waking up for school ever morning during the 99-00 season and seeing Shaq pour in stats like 36/18/5/2. It was a magical time. I sat there on my Uncle's couch (lifelong Lakers die-hard) thinking the Blazers had us beat in the WCF only to see a great comeback capped by Shaq. Will always remember Shaq's dominance fondly. Even is he does play for the dumb ass Cavs now.

[artex]

thank you shaq for 3 rings and countless memories in the purple and gold.

i dont give a damn who hes playing for right now, this dude is epic. he brought my city 3 championships, and i will always respect him for that. nothing could stop him (except for the free throw line..)

[Andrei89]

2 weeks ago there was a report saying shaq would like to stay one more year

I assume those allegations were true since there was no evidence he didn't say it

[Doranku]

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

Arguably the most dominant prime of all time, numerous outstanding playoff performances, and one of the greatest entertainers the league has ever seen. The league won't be the same without you, big guy. :(

[WeaponX2024]

Most dominating force I've ever witnessed. I hope he can stay in this league longer.

[Tuvi]

Shaqs was such a monster, destroyed all the best big guys his rookie year

[Lebron23]

Shaq playing with the Orlando Magic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS5mIncSQf4


Shaq top 10 2000 Finals


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD_tgXfXZRM


Shaq Top 10 Plays of the 2001 Finals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZxrZExuYvY&feature=related

Shaq top 10 2002 Finals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOMnTAI7Gfw&feature=related

Shaq Crossover and 360 Dunk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Eu2NrAqQr4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSCSiDbYXec


:rockon: :applause: :rockon:

[Toizumi]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/3446452067_8913ea46cf.jpg

http://membres.lycos.fr/nicoc759/shaq_dunk.jpg

http://nbcsportsmedia.msnbc.com/j/ap/franlas10401170516.widec.jpg

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/v3/02-21-2008.ns_21Shaq.G3I2BHOSV.1.jpg

http://nbcsportsmedia4.msnbc.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/spt-091202-shaq.widec.jpg


I doubt that there is any NBA player in the history of the league with more dunks than Shaq :rockon:

[AJ2k8]

I doubt that there is any NBA player in the history of the league with more dunks than Shaq :rockon:

Thou art Wilt Chamberlain exceeds thy Shaq in this realm

[/Abe]

[west]

MDE, nuff said!!!:rockon:

[AJ2k8]

MDE, nuff said!!!:rockon:

Yao Ming?....Bill Russell?:lol

[Toizumi]

Thou art Wilt Chamberlain exceeds thy Shaq in this realm

[/Abe]

The wise man shalt know better :pimp:

[west]

Yao Ming?....Bill Russell?:lol
:wtf:
Go to the principal office.

[HylianNightmare]

he'll be able to play a few more seasons with his size, but i will always dislike him

[Shaquille O'Neal]

Long Live Emperor Shaquille O'Neal


Thank you.

[HylianNightmare]

Thank you.
go practice your free throws

[ezzy]

some more pics to enjoy. i've been a fan of shaq's since i heard of him in college, and seeing him play on my favorite team (especially in the early 90's throwbacks!) has been surreal.

some of my fave pics i found of The Big Freeze browsing the net:

http://www.tosports.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/shaq.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dnwb_hyOhyc/SuhCuAucfPI/AAAAAAAAA4A/LASM9O735Tc/s1600-h/shaq.jpg

http://cdn-www.cracked.com/articleimages/wong/shaqfu.jpg

http://notamystery.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/wheaties-shaq-6_shad.jpg?w=283&h=397

[Andrei89]

go practice your free throws


so true lol

after 18 years still can' hit free throws:D

[ezzy]

http://splog.nationallampoon.com/files/2009/06/shaqcop.jpg


http://blog.cleveland.com/pdextra/2009/06/lebron-james-shaquille-oneal-allstar.jpg

http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/famecrawler/shaq-hat.jpg

[ILLsmak]

Sad to see him struggle nowadays, but not many can duplicate what Kareem had done. Last of the 90s old school centers. :cheers:


Why do you say he is struggling? He's really not. You can say that he has a more limited role but just because he's not scoring 20 ppg doesn't mean he's struggling. He's playing a role and doing it well.

-Smak

[ILLsmak]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBXvNGdjM8E

That's something that needs to be here, too. Think about it, all of the highlights in that song were from his rookie year, too. He totally destroyed Ewing.

I hate that people forget how good Shaq was. He came into the NBA and he was like Dwight cept bigger, stronger, and more skilled. I can't believe people want to say that someone like Bill Russell or Kareem could have bang with Shaq. I bet not even Wilt. Even when they mentioned guarding Shaq to Bill Russell, he looked fearful like "Man, I was good, but he's just too big!"

I think if anyone could have banged with Shaq it would have been a 'big body' guy like Mark Eaton. Shaq would get around him a bit, but he'd just be throwing those other guys on the ground. Same with Hakeem. Shaq had a lot of respect for him, but he still busted on him a lot. It was a great battle... probably the only battle Shaq ever had in the NBA.

Everyone remembers the lazy out of shape Shaq, but it just proves how much better Shaq was because he was still dominating. I wish he'd have stayed in shape, too, but you can't take away all of those rings.

SHAQ IS THE BEST CENTER OF THE COLOR TV ERA.

-Smak

[RaceBannana]

My Respects to the big fella.

[Rafael Delaget]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br3AaISFc-A

[Kevin_Garnett_5]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWqPnEGzfK8

[ILLsmak]

[QUOTE=Rafael Delaget

[crisoner]

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/153/421314.jpg

http://product.images.prosportsmemorabilia.com/33-30/33-30462-F.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/nba.fanhouse.com/media/2009/02/shaq-kobe-all-star-mvp-425.jpg

Thank you for the three rings Shaq!

[browntown]

Shaq top 10 2002 Finals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOMnTAI7Gfw&feature=related


The kids reaction in the last highlight is hilarious.

[miller-time]

http://need4sheed.com/images/earl.jpg

[sbw19]

Why do you say he is struggling? He's really not. You can say that he has a more limited role but just because he's not scoring 20 ppg doesn't mean he's struggling. He's playing a role and doing it well.
Sure I can, and he is. Because I do not judge whether or not he's struggling based on his ability to do a very limited role when he's incapable of doing much more. And certainly not when he is incapable of being a better scoring option than Mo williams (or even a more efficient scorer than Big Z last season)...he's basically putting up Dampier numbers. Shaq!

He's having career-lows across many categories most notably FG%. Shaq was brought in to provide scoring down low among other things, yet so far he's scored in single digit 11 times, compared to 8 times last season despite having a superstar demanding so much attention in LeBron. He's missing so many easy looks it's painful to watch.

He might do better as the season progresses, but right now he certainly isn't a major reason the Cavs are playing well.

[Da_Realist]

Orlando Magic @ Washington Bullets 03-22-96
Shaq 49 points, 17 rebs, 3 blks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-TM-edAcYA

[OmniStrife]

Relevant:

http://i.imgur.com/Hk2Vb.png

[DCL]

when there's a strategy called "hack-a-shaq" , it pretty much means the opposite team concedes defeat and forfeits the legit way of defending because they don't know any other way of stopping your big ass.

[greensmoke21]

prime shaq >>>>>>>jordan

[305Baller]

prime shaq >>>>>>>jordan

I think this argument will continue to have more merit as time passes.
Prime Shaq was just :eek:

[jlip]

I think that in the search for the "next Jordan" in the form of a 6'5-6'8" athletic wing player the greatness of Shaq has been lost on the casual fan. This dude's peak was as dominant as anyone else's in history. Teams were literally basing their trade and draft decisions on combatting his dominance.

[Lebron23]

I think this argument will continue to have more merit as time passes.
Prime Shaq was just :eek:


They are 2 of the most dominant Finals performer in NBA History.

[Laimbeer_Rodman]

video released Before his first season in NBA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0UN1cvUmI4)
Forget Tony Danza, I'm the boss
When it comes to money, I'm like Dick Butkas
Now who's the first pick? ME, word is bond
Not a Christean Laettner, not Alonzo Mourning

Oh,oh,and prime Shaq would be pissin' on this league

[Eat Like A Bosh]

Long live the diesel!
He was a pretty funny dude off the court.
Shaq was not just a basketball player, he got in the ring before, he rapped, he has a TV show, he pretty much does everything!
Will always remember these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWqPnEGzfK8

[Mrofir]

did i miss something? He's not retiring officially right?

He's not going out like that.

No

[ChandlerParsons]

did i miss something? He's not retiring officially right?

He's not going out like that.

No
He is winning a ring his last year..
So next year to the Heat . AGAIN. To benchwarm

[Kurosawa0]

did i miss something? He's not retiring officially right?

He's not going out like that.

No

I think he kinda implied when he couldn't go at the end of the Boston-Miami series that this was pretty much it.

[macpierce]

He should retire honestly, he injured himself jogging up the court, he injured himself on a reverse layup jumping approximately 1 inch off the ground..........
his next stop is the hall of fame

[keepinitreal]

http://www.emuparadise.org/PSX/Covers/NBA%20Live%20%2796%20%5BU%5D%20%5BSLUS-00060%5D-front.jpg

:rockon: :bowdown:

[kaiiu]

http://th07.deviantart.net/fs12/PRE/i/2006/262/c/d/Super_Shaq_by_BroHawk.jpg
http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs27/f/2008/123/a/4/Shaq_2_ON_2_GAME_by_chaskillz.jpg
http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs19/f/2007/282/e/4/Shaq_by_youngandreckless.jpg
:bowdown: :bowdown: we are not fvckin worthy

[gilalizard]

It's hard to not respect Shaq's dominance. An athletic/genetic freak that was impossible to guard or stop. His prime was beyond anyone else's prime. I think people are right when they say his prime was at least even with, if not beyond, Jordan's. Just absolute dominance on his part.

"The Big Aristotle" was quirky and funny to listen to. He was entertaining even when losing, randomly quoting Milli Vanilli to explain why he played poorly in a playoff game against Minnesota: "Blame it on the rain." And as an anti-Laker fan, it was always fun to listen to him whine about losing in the playoffs before Phil was called to LA.

His crappy FT shooting, fluctuating weight, rap and movie "careers", and his feud with Kobe were also pure entertainment of the TMZ variety. He more than held his own in the GOAT-drama that is Lakerland.

All that said, he could also be a world-class a-hole. His mocking of Sacramento after the '02 Sac/Lakers travesty of a series ranks near the top in all-time classlessness.

Shaq was one of a kind.

[greensmoke21]

It's hard to not respect Shaq's dominance. An athletic/genetic freak that was impossible to guard or stop. His prime was beyond anyone else's prime. I think people are right when they say his prime was at least even with, if not beyond, Jordan's. Just absolute dominance on his part.

"The Big Aristotle" was quirky and funny to listen to. He was entertaining even when losing, randomly quoting Milli Vanilli to explain why he played poorly in a playoff game against Minnesota: "Blame it on the rain." And as an anti-Laker fan, it was always fun to listen to him whine about losing in the playoffs before Phil was called to LA.

His crappy FT shooting, fluctuating weight, rap and movie "careers", and his feud with Kobe were also pure entertainment of the TMZ variety. He more than held his own in the GOAT-drama that is Lakerland.

All that said, he could also be a world-class a-hole. His mocking of Sacramento after the '02 Sac/Lakers travesty of a series ranks near the top in all-time classlessness.

Shaq was one of a kind.
lol shaq was straight clowing on vlade

[Lucifer]

So Lebron23 made this thread when he was a Cavs fan and Shaq was playing on the team. :roll: What a bandwagoning homer. I fully expect him to make a Udonis Haslem tribute thread this off-season. What a bandwagoning *******.

[Lebron23]

The greatest and most dominant finals performer in NBA History.

[Suckafree]

The greatest and most dominant finals performer in NBA History.

**** you bumpin your old ass thread with a lame post like that for??

No wonder you have 36K posts

[Axe]

I remember watching this video more than five years ago. Still makes me laugh.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6KQFxxHmVMc