Los Angeles Lakers: How great was Shaquille O’Neal?
Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most dominant Los Angeles Lakers players of all-time, but just how good was the Big Diesel?
How great was Shaquille O’Neal? The answer to that question is subjective. In today’s sports world of hot takes, what-ifs, and who would win, I think most rational NBA and Los Angeles Lakers fans can agree Shaquille O’Neal is one of the greatest players we’ve ever seen. Shaq dominated the NBA and won more than his contemporaries.
From the moment Shaq entered the NBA in 1992 he didn’t disappoint. He was a phenom. For any point of comparison, you have to go back to Wilt Chamberlain. Another physically gifted player that simply towered above the competition. By any standard, LeBron James is a physical marvel. Zion Williamson is a physical marvel but he’s listed at 6 foot 6 inches. Shaq is 7’1. Think about that.
In Shaq’s first four seasons in the NBA he was named Rookie of the Year, was a four-time all-star, three-time All-NBA, runner-up for NBA MVP, he made the NBA Finals and won an Olympic gold medal.
This was all within his first four years in the NBA. It takes most players 3-4 years to develop into all-star-caliber players but Shaq was that from the day he entered the NBA.
Entering the NBA in the early 1990s meant Shaq would be going up against some of the greatest big men of all time. Throughout his career, he faced Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Alonzo Mourning and Tim Duncan. Shaq wasn’t dominating “plumbers” and “trashmen” as social media often describes players prior to the 2000s.
Reviewing his career accomplishments leaves you in awe of how great he truly was. Shaq was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. He won four NBA championships, three of which most notably with Kobe Bryant. Shaq was 2000 league MVP, three-time Finals MVP, 15-time all-star, 14-time All-NBA, three-time All-Defense and three-time all-star MVP.
As of this article, Shaq is eighth all-time in scoring, eighth in blocks, 15th in rebounds, seventh in FG% and seventh in field goals made.
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The scariest part is many who watched his career believe he left a few championships on the table and could have been the greatest player we’ve ever seen. I tend to agree with that sentiment.