[28], The Orlando Magic drafted O'Neal with the 1st overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft. In December 2010, Shaq became The Big Conductor. [64] The Lakers started the season with a record of 1119. However, he promised his mother he would eventually return to his studies and complete his bachelor's degree. He was one of two players (the other being Reggie Miller) from the 1994 roster to be also named to the Dream Team III. Shaquille O'Neal has a big heart to give away some of his nicknames to the players, equivalent to his prowess. [78] O'Neal finished the 200506 season as the league leader in field goal percentage. [268] In late 2016, he purchased the Krispy Kreme location at 295 Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta. On February 27, 2009, O'Neal scored 45 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, his 49th career 40-point game, beating the Toronto Raptors 133113. And it has a funny story behind it. I wanna be different. Through his playful antics, his joking and cutting up with reporters, and always making his interviews appear on SportsCenter due to his humor, he has acquired many different nicknames through the years. [312][313] Shareef played in college for the UCLA Bruins before transferring to LSU. It is important to understand the context behind the occasion, what nickname Shaq was given, and how . The Bulls swept the Heat, the first time in 50years a defending NBA champion was swept in the opening round. Kidadl is supported by you, the reader. You can see why Shaq thought this was a good name for him. In the summer of 1996, O'Neal was named to the United States Olympic basketball team, and was later part of the gold medal-winning team at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. ONeal played in Phoenix from 2007-2009, his sixteenth and seventeenth years in the league. Per Dan Woike of The Los Angeles . Superman "[165] O'Neal later said it was locker room humor and he meant no offense. [41] He also learned that Hardaway considered himself the leader of the Magic and did not want O'Neal making more money than him. The 200809 season improved for O'Neal, who averaged 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks through the first half (41 games) of the season, leading the Suns to a 2318 record and 2nd place in their division. Three letters is a boring nickname. Shaq also immortalized a number of other nicknames for other players, some flattering and some less so. Shaquille O'Neal has been known by many names over his lifetime: Superman, Big Diesel and The Big Aristotle, to name a few. The 1st Golden Age came when Wilt Chamberlain regularly faced off with Bill Russell. [202], In September 2006, O'Neal took part in a raid on a home in rural Bedford County, Virginia. Though not exactly a world-shaping philosopher, Shaq did graduate with a bachelors degree from LSU that same year and, in 2005, added an MBA from the University of Phoenix to his educational accomplishments. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, the No. O'Neal added that he was only competing against Duncan: "If Tim Duncan gets five rings, then that gives some writer the chance to say 'Duncan is the best,' and I can't have that. The Inside the NBA crew enjoy joking about each other and players in the NBA, which has been a catalyst for many moments of entertaining television over the years. "[240] On August 28, 2010, in an interview at UFC 118 in Boston, O'Neal reiterated his desire to fight Choi. Shaq gave himself this one after he said he terrorized Keith Van Horn on the boards during his 2002 NBA Finals win. From breaking backboards to samurai swords,the NBA will miss Shaquille O'Neal. [26] He was later inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame. O'Neal told a reporter, "you tell Yao Ming, ching chong yang, wah, ah so. [204][205], On January 20, 2015, O'Neal was sworn in as a reserve officer for Doral, Florida's police force. That opened the door for many more to come. O'Neal began training in mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2000. Chicago would respond with two dominating performances at home to tie the series, but Miami would respond right back with a victory at home in game 5. The nickname, like Shaq playing basketball, is simply outstanding. It refers to the idea that he was the Last Center Left. The Lakers made the playoffs, but were eliminated in the second round by the Utah Jazz in five games. "[109] O'Neal averaged career lows in almost every major statistical category during the 200910 season, taking on a much less significant role than in previous years. After helping the Lakers capture back-to-back-to-back titles, ONeal considered himself the Most Dominant Ever. He definitely had an argument at the time, as he had been named NBA Finals MVP for each year of the threepeat and had just averaged 36.3 points in a sweep over New Jersey. [131] He received the position in return for breaking news of his NBA retirement on the service. He claimed one of the main reasons for wanting to be traded to Miami was because of their up-and-coming star Dwyane Wade, to whom he gave the nickname "Flash". Jokic, the Western Conference's winner for the . 1993 Ultra Famous Nicknames Michael Jordan & Shaquille O'Neal PSA 8 NM-MT LOT . "I didn't think the best defensive player in the game would be flopping like that. However, sometimes, it can be difficult to come up with a good nickname for ourselves. Im in the protection business. Thus the name: Witness Protection. The name of that album? In November 2022, FTX filed for bankruptcy, wiping out billions of dollars in customer funds as well as O'Neal's personal stake in the company. Superman: Shaq is obsessed with the Man of Steel. Prompted by his ardent interest in basketball, O'Neal joined his school's basketball team. Charles Barkley will turn 58 this Saturday, and the rest of TNT's "Inside the NBA" crew consisting of Shaquille O . Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, and the Inside the NBA crew are known for making jokes about themselves and current players, and Barkley just gained a new joke nickname. O'Neal was not qualified as a SWAT officer. On Tuesday night, though, it was O'Neal handing out a new tagline for Kings center Domantas Sabonis' dominance in the paint -- "Lithuanian Lasagna." It took the place of O'Neal's normal "barbecue chicken" catch phrase for when centers dominate down low. [23] His 791 rebounds during the 1989 season remains a state record for a player in any classification. [135] He forwent an opportunity to participate in the 2000 Olympics, explaining that two gold medals were enough. [190][191] His doctoral capstone[192][193] topic was "The Duality of Humor and Aggression in Leadership Styles". A sequel, Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn, was released in 2018. Ugh. After leaving early to enter the draft, Shaq boogied back to LSU and graduatedcalling himself "The Big Aristotle." Shaquille is corporate, nice-looking, soft-spoken, wears suits, and is very cordial to people, whereas Shaq is the dominant athlete who is the two-time champion. During a preseason game, O'Neal had yelled at Lakers owner Jerry Buss, "Pay me. I don't wanna be known as Commentator Shaq. O'Neal starred in Shaq Fu, a fighting game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis. Nicknames; Players; Player Follows; Podcasts; Power Rating; Re-Drafts; Scouting reports; Transactions; NBA Tickets; Top Stories. I had trouble with it when I was little. 1 pick in the NBA draft. They sought the free-agent services of two aging starsforward Karl Malone and guard Gary Paytonbut due to salary cap restrictions, could not offer either player nearly as much money as he could have made with some other teams. Others use them to show off their uniqueness. The Heat struggled against the Bulls and although O'Neal put up reasonable numbers, he was not able to dominate the series. His role in the offense diminished, as he attempted only 10 field goals per game, versus his career average of 17. O'Neal established himself as an overpowering low post presence, putting up career averages of 23.7 points on .582 field goal accuracy, 10.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. As a play off one of his other nicknames, The Big Aristotle, Shaq went with "The Big Cactus" because why not? Nicknames are usually used by people who share a similar personality trait or characteristic. What are Shaq Lawson's nicknames? I feel the same way about 32 and 33 on this list. Which one of his almost mythical monikers, though,ranks No. [69] After the series, O'Neal was angered by comments made by Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak regarding O'Neal's future with the club, as well as by the departure of Lakers coach Phil Jackson at the request of Buss. Thousands of randomly generated ideas - funny, weird, creative, fancy, badass and more! After playing college basketball for the LSU Tigers, O'Neal was drafted by the Orlando Magic with the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft. First off, Shaq does not seem like the academic type. But when I play him (on defense), it's just going to be me down there. "We have professionals who know what to do. But Shaq created a near-perfect nickname with The Big Aristotle. [118] Privately, he wanted to start, but kept it to himself. [31] The Magic finished 4141, winning 20 more games than the previous season, but missed the playoffs by virtue of a tie-breaker with the Indiana Pacers. As a blog dedicated to sports history, I am drawn to the idea if not the actual nickname. Shaq has been an expert in basketball since college. Doctor Shaq: This nickname was invented in 2005 as a way to dis Andrew Bynum, Shaq's "replacement" on the Lakers. This list is compiled based on how impactful the nicknames are, originality, and how the nicknames were acquired. O'Neal was featured alongside Michael Jackson as a guest rapper on "2 Bad", a song from Jackson's 1995 album HIStory. [94] O'Neal credited the Suns training staff with prolonging his career. He led his team to a 681 record over two years and helped the team win the state championship during his senior year. Shaquille O'Neal was not the only person on the receiving end of Charles Barkley's comments, as Barkley also recently took the opportunity to take shots at some New Orleans Pelicans teammates. Also, why would he want to work so hard? Tell him howhis cake tastesladies. In fact, people love it when you call them with a simple nickname. In this case, it refers to a person who uses a certain name. In 2023, Shaq has created a new nickname to add to the list. Call me a sucker for a good pun. Riley soon after decided to trade O'Neal. [270], In conjunction with Boraie Development, O'Neal has developed projects in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey, including, CityPlex12 and One Riverview. 9. At the same time, I cant minimize terrorism and dont want to joke too much about such a sensitive subject. From nickname to video game: Shaq Fu was playable on consoles like the Sega Genesis and Game Boy in 1994 and featured ONeal traveling through an alternate dimension to rescue a boy from an evil mummy and its henchmen. [329], O'Neal is a fan of the National Hockey League's New Jersey Devils, who play in his hometown of Newark, and has been seen at several games over the years. [337], "Shaquille" and "Shaq" redirect here. [336], O'Neal turned down a $40 million deal with Reebok after hearing a mother complain about how expensive his shoes were. He was obsessed with the fictional character Superman, and many of his cars had the Superman emblem. These are the ones that I know: Paul Pierce: The Truth Dwayne Wade: The Flash Tim Duncan: Big Fundamental Kawhi Leonard: Sugar K Leonard Robin Lopez: Barbeque Chicken Javale McGee: Tragic Bronson Dorell Wright: Dorell Wrong Erick Dampier: Erica Dampier Yao Ming: Ching Chong Other companies and products for which he has appeared in commercials include Reebok, Nestl Crunch, Gold Bond, Buick, The General, Papa John's, Hulu, Epson, and IcyHot, among others. folder_opendo soulmates separate and reunite. Michael Jordans First Championship: An Epic Run! He was calling himself a great shooter and comparing himself to European players like Peja Stojakovic. I would swap them, but I cant figure this one out. O'Neal was upbeat in a post-game press conference, stating: "I will take the blame for this loss because I wasn't in tune with the guys [] But give me four or five days to really get in tune and I'll get it. O'Neal was quoted as saying that he accepted the advice of NBA legend Bill Russell to make peace with Bryant. He led the league with a 58.4 field goal percentage, the first of five consecutive seasons in which he did so. (Last Center Left) -- Shaq considered himself in a different class than his counterparts around the league such as Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets and Dikembe Mutombo. Coach Del Harris was fired, and former Lakers forward Kurt Rambis finished the season as head coach. "[100] In a 2006 interview in TIME, O'Neal said if he were NBA commissioner, he would "Make a guy have to beat a guynot flop and get calls and be nice to the referees and kiss ass. Toney struggled with drug addiction and was imprisoned for drug possession when O'Neal was an infant. The Big Aristotle The Big Shamrock Shaq Mayor McShaq Diesel Wilt Chamberneezy The Big Cactus The Big Shaqtus If you were a headline writer would you rather call him Superman or the Big Aristotle? After O'Neal blocked a layup by Barkley, O'Neal shoved Barkley, who then threw the ball at O'Neal. [222], O'Neal appeared on NBA Ballers and NBA Ballers: Phenom,[223] in the 2002 Discovery Channel special Motorcycle Mania 2 requesting an exceptionally large bike to fit his large size famed custom motorcycle builder Jesse James,[224] in the first Idol Gives Back in 2007,[225] on an episode of Fear Factor,[226] and on an episode of MTV's Jackass, where he was lifted off the ground on Wee Man's back.