Shaquille O’Neal Tarnishes His Laker Legacy

Sure, Shaquille O’Neal might have won three titles and hoisted three Finals MVPs during his tenure in Los Angeles. But all that has become a side note after what he did today.

The Big Caboose is once again attaching himself to a title contender in hopes of grabbing one more ring on the way out by signing a reported two-year deal with the Boston Celtics.

Ok, so maybe spending one meaningless year in Beantown won’t preclude any of Shaq’s accomplishments in Purple and Gold. But it certainly will be an unfit final chapter for one of the most accomplished big men in the modern game.

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

That Shaq is willing to take the veteran’s minimum just to ride the pine in hopes of getting even with Kobe Bryant on ring count says about all you need to know. After playing the worst season of his career with the title pretending Cleveland Cavaliers, it is obvious that Shaq has reached levels of desperation only Terrell Owens would dare venture into.

What Shaq accomplished during his time in Los Angeles will never be forgotten. His name stands proudly amongst the likes of George Mikan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. Of course before he sold his soul to the green goblins in Boston, Shaq might have actually had a higher standing among all-time Laker big men. Now, he’s fallen somewhere below Mychal Thompson and just above Elden Campbell.

Alright, so maybe that is doing a little too much.

Shaq will always be in the discussion for greatest Laker big. Too bad he’ll forever have the stench of green on his legacy.