Shaquille O’Neal’s run with the Los Angeles Lakers is legendary.
It’s been over 20 years since Shaquille O’Neal won his first championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. In an ever-changing NBA landscape where today’s centers hoist up threes, this generation of players and fans will never get to witness the sheer power, domination and attention the Big Aristotle garnered.
The Lakers were coming off another disappointing playoff run the previous season (98-99) where they finished with a 31–19 record due to the NBA lockout. They were eventually swept in the Western Conference Semifinals to the ultimate champion San Antonio Spurs.
Heading into the 1990-2000 season, the Lakers seemed to turn the page. They played their first season in a new arena — Staples Center — and acquired “The Zen Master” Phil Jackson to lead this young and talented squad to the promised land.
The Lakers dominated the regular season as they flourished in the triangle offense. They finished with a 67-15 record and had a 19-game winning streak in February and March.
O’Neal was unstoppable as he led the league in scoring (29.7 ppg), which also turned out to be his career-best, along with a field goal percentage (.574) with 13.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.0 blocks per game. The Diesel also recorded his career-high with 61 points while adding 23 rebounds against the Clippers to celebrate his 28th birthday.
Shaq would go on the win his first NBA Most Valuable Player award and nearly become the first unanimous MVP of the regular season, receiving 120 of a possible 121 first-place votes. Shaq acknowledged the one voter than voted against him (h/t Associated Press).
"“The first thing I did was call my mother and father,” O’Neal said upon hearing the news at the Lakers practice facility. As for not receiving all first-place votes, “The one guy who didn’t vote (for me): Thank you, too,” he said with a grin. “I appreciate it.”"
As the playoffs approached, Shaq was determined to obtain more hardware. They squeezed past a tough Sacramento Kings squad and beat the Phoenix Suns in the semifinals.
The Blazers would be next and it was a tough series, to say the least. Portland pushed the Lakers to 7 games which it led by 15 with only 10:28 remaining.
We all know the rest as LA rallied back and the iconic Kobe to Shaq lob capped off the win. Shaq obliterated the Pacers in the NBA Finals, averaging 38 points, 16.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in 6 games to capture his first championship.
What a season it was for the 7-foot-1, 315-pounder, Shaq won:
- All-Star MVP honors with Tim Duncan.
- NBA MVP Award
- NBA Championship
- NBA Finals MVP
It was an exceptional season that would lead to more success for Shaquille O’Neal. CAN YOU DIG IT!!!!!!