But I cant help but find it quite boring as a nickname. He has a Superman logo tattoo on his arm and many of his cars also have Superman emblems on them. This list is compiled based on how impactful the nicknames are, originality, and how the nicknames were acquired. The Lakers won, 130124. Yes, this nickname as well"Shaq Diesel"has its roots in 1990s hip-hop "slanguage." That's hip-hop, not hip-"Hoopz." Boop, boop, bee doop. (NBA always compared Shaq and Wilt Chamberlain for their physical power that altered the game rulebooks. Stern wants to keep him involved in the game, I'm sure. Its a nod to the history of the game. The big man's here to kick ass and take a gazillion nicknames. [36][37] 82% answered "no". I hate this nickname. "[67] There had been increasing tension between O'Neal and Bryant. Shaquille O'Neal gets his cake, and he eats it, too. [170], O'Neal was very vocal with the media, often making jabs at former Laker teammate Kobe Bryant. [125] After requesting a cortisone shot, O'Neal returned April 3 after missing 27games due to his Achilles; he played only five minutes due to a strained right calf. Please scroll down for his favorite superhero nickname. O'Neal began training in mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2000. O'Neal's humorous and sometimes incendiary comments fueled the Los Angeles Lakers' long-standing rivalry with the Sacramento Kings; O'Neal frequently referred to the Sacramento team as the "Queens". You'll see what I mean. 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. Nice try. We succeeded in casting him after a lot of effort. Dont forget to include your parents, siblings, teachers, and friends. Checkout the latest stats for Shaquille Leonard. Galactus is a Marvel comic book character who appeared in the Fantastic Four series and some Avenger stuff. Grade: PSA 8. [10] O'Neal again missed games due to injuries, and the Heat had a 15game losing streak. In 2023, Shaq has created a new nickname to add to the list. In other words, had Shaq, with just four years and one completed contract under his belt, been a free agent in this year's class, or in 1994, or 1998, or 1999, or 2000, or at any other time in . On June 25, 2009, O'Neal was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Sasha Pavlovic, Ben Wallace, $500,000, and a 2010 second-round draft pick. I guess its delightfully grammatically incorrect. If I score 0 points and we win I'm happy. He accomplished more than most NBA players can dream of in his 19-year career with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics. [286][287][288] In February 2022, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a lawsuit against Bitconnect that the Securities Act of 1933 extends to targeted solicitation using social media. ardagh metal beverage; over stemming and under stemming example; school of arts and sciences rutgers; nassau guardian obituaries 2021; selfie station miami aventura mall [55], In the 2001 NBA Finals against the 76ers, O'Neal fouled out in Game 3 backing over Dikembe Mutombo, the 20002001 Defensive Player of the Year. On December 8, 2005, he was sworn in, but elected for a private ceremony to avoid distracting attention from the other officers. The Magic won their first-ever playoff series against the Boston Celtics in the 1995 NBA Playoffs. 11. From bestowing nicknames such as Paul "The Truth" Pierce, Dwyane "Flash" Wade, and Tim "Big Fundamental" Duncan to dawning several himself, Shaq has more talent for aliases than Jennifer Garner. [137] He rejected an offer to play in the 2004 Olympics,[138] and although he was initially interested in being named for 20062008 US preliminary roster,[139] he eventually declined the invitation.[140]. Bill Russellaccording to Russellthinks the world of big Shaq. At Jonathan Burke's Gracie Gym, he trained in boxing, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and wrestling. He, alongside other spokespeople, is currently being sued for promoting unregistered securities through a class-action lawsuit. Big Baryshnikov Later, during his short stent with Boston, he used "The Big Shamrock." My favorite during his time in Phoenix, however, was "Shaqtus". Shaq Fu -- Shaq Fu was a Super Nintendo System video game that was released in 1995. He got upset when Dwight Howard started calling himself Superman as well. O'Neal also started DJing in the 1980s at LSU. [42], On the team's first full day at the Olympics in Atlanta, the media announced that O'Neal would join the Los Angeles Lakers on a seven-year, $121million contract. O'Neal also appeared on television on Saturday Night Live (he was initially picked to host the second episode of season 24 in 1998, but had to back down due to scheduling conflicts, being replaced by Kelsey Grammer; however, he did appear in two sketches during the episode) and in 2007 hosted Shaq's Big Challenge, a reality show on ABC in which he challenged Florida kids to lose weight and stay in shape. The Kloser 22. Jackson immediately challenged O'Neal, telling him "the [NBA's] MVP trophy should be named after him when he retired. You can see why Shaq thought this was a good name for him. [294] In 2017, a trial court ruled that Darling had not filed the lawsuit "in good faith," and that the accusations made by Darling occurred after he had attempted to extort$12,000,000 from ONeal in return for thousands of stolen emails and electronic files. [112] The contract was for two years at the veteran minimum salary for a total contract value of $2.8million. [335] He participated in a virtual rally for then-presidential candidate Joe Biden and voted for the first time during the 2020 presidential election. Cool Shaq Nicknames. Below are some tips to choose a good nickname. The corrective options ranged from reconstructive surgery on the toe to rehabilitation exercises with more shoe inserts and anti-inflammation medication. As I have mentioned, I am suspicious of the Big X as a formula for Shaqs nicknames. [157][158], During the 2000 Screen Actors Guild strike, O'Neal performed in a commercial for Disney. Since Shaq loves the superman cartoon, he tattooed himself with the Superman symbol on his left arm captioned with the Man of Steel. But luckily for you, weve collected a massive list of catchy, funny, and original nicknames for Shaq for you to choose from. Player/Athlete: Alonzo Mourning, Anfernee Hardaway, Charles Barkley, Clyde Drexler, David Robinson, Derrick Coleman, Dominique Wilkins . Doctor Shaq: This nickname was invented in 2005 as a way to dis Andrew Bynum, Shaq's "replacement" on the Lakers. But we are coming to the end of this list. Both played for the Los Angeles Lakers NBA team and were great centers in NBA history.). He even dished out some of the most lasting nicknames to his fellow superstars, like Paul "The Truth" Pierce, Dwyane "Flash" Wade and Tim "The Big Fundamental" Duncan, but O'Neal always saved plenty for himself. 12. The Big Aristotle is a nickname he gave himself as a reference to the consistent greatness that won him the 2000 MVP award. 32 jersey during the 201617 season, making O'Neal one of just 32 athletes in American professional sports history to have their jersey retired by multiple teams. Some people use them to identify themselves better. According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the match was canceled due to monetary reasons, as both parties could not agree on a deal. [219][220] O'Neal had a 2005 reality series on ESPN, Shaquille,[221] and hosted a series called Shaq's Big Challenge on ABC. [298], O'Neal was raised by a Baptist mother and a Muslim stepfather. Advertisement Let's explore Shaq's best monikers: 12. It was probably to promote something. Another "big" nickname is The Big Felonafter a game-winning steal Shaq made against the Orlando Magic. [111] On August 4, 2010, the Celtics announced that they had signed O'Neal. If youre too young, you may not know of Mayor McCheese. 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. In addition, O'Neal was plagued by fouls, and during one stretch fouled out of five consecutive games. The Shaq Attack emerged after O'Neal. is saying oh my goodness a sin in islam. The Big Blank formula is used for many of ONeals nicknames. [305][306] Nelson also has one son from a previous relationship, Myles. If not, let me say that I hate it. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so its important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. In 1999, prior to the 19992000 season, the Lakers hired Phil Jackson as head coach, and the team's fortunes soon changed. Shaq gave it to himself after his Lakers threepeat. [53] O'Neal's 61-point game is the most recent game in NBA history that a player scored 60 or more points without hitting a 3-pointer. Total games played: 1207 (44th) O'Neal played in the NBA from 1992 until 2011, marking one of the longest and most storied careers in league history. Nicknames play a huge role in how we interact with others. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon. "The Big Shamrock" was thought up by Shaqthe NBA's resident entertainer for years. This one should probably rank even lower. Something about the length of the phrase appealed to me, but I dont love it. [204][205], On January 20, 2015, O'Neal was sworn in as a reserve officer for Doral, Florida's police force. He is one of only three players to win NBA MVP, All-Star Game MVP and Finals MVP awards in the same year (2000); the other players are Willis Reed in 1970 and Michael Jordan in 1996 and 1998. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. Prompted by his ardent interest in basketball, O'Neal joined his school's basketball team. Upon his release, he did not resume a place in O'Neal's life and instead agreed to relinquish his parental rights to O'Neal's Jamaican stepfather, Phillip Arthur Harrison, a career Army sergeant. In his first playoff series, O'Neal averaged 20.7 points and 13.3 rebounds as the Pacers swept the Magic. [180] O'Neal was also featured in Aaron Carter's 2001 hit single "That's How I Beat Shaq". You wont get confused by people with someone else having the same nickname. He played in 73 games, his most since 2001 season, averaged 22.9 points a game along with 10.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. The Big Shamrock was given to ONeal in the last of his nineteen NBA seasons when he played for the Celtics. Wednesday night on NBA TV,Barkley called him the No. You can use these nicknames anywhere you want for free. shaq nicknames for other playersgeorgia foraging laws. For sheezie,Shaq could handle the rock. At first I was going to rank this nickname lower. [279] He has also appeared in television commercials promoting the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive league ELeague. Me'arah O'Neal? He joined the Phoenix Suns team in 2007-2009 and got a co-MVP award along with his ex-colleague Kobe Bryant from Los Angeles Lakers team. In his prime, Shaq wasthe rib of the leaguethe lean and meanface of the NBA. [190][194] O'Neal received his Ed.D. [268] In June 2015, he invested in technology startup Loyale3 Holdings Inc., a San Francisco brokerage firm whose website and mobile app enables companies to sell a piece of their IPOs directly to small investors who put up as a little as $100 and also allows investors to regularly buy small amounts of shares in already public companies. However, he promised his mother he would eventually return to his studies and complete his bachelor's degree. This natural big person and Kobe Bryant had an athletic dislike, but later, in 2013, they started a big and little brother respect and affection towards each other. O'Neal has a daughter named Taahirah O'Neal (b. July 19, 1996)[307][308] from a previous relationship with his ex-girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh. I'll have a hell of a season if I win the championship and average 20 points a game. [13], In addition to his basketball career, O'Neal has released four rap albums, with his first, Shaq Diesel, going platinum. David Stern also had kind words to say aboutShaqlast night on NBA TV. Shaq's demands held the franchise hostage, and the way he went about it didn't please the owner too much. This article contains incorrect information, This article doesnt have the information Im looking for, 60+ Funny Orc Names That Are Perfect For Your Next Campaign, All Of The Pillar Men Names From JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, 100+ Ice Hockey, Roller Hockey, And Hockey Team Names From Past And Present, 80+ Beaver Names From Fiction, Plus Cute And Funny Ideas For Names. Credit Solution Experts Incorporated offers quality business credit building services, which includes an easy step-by-step system designed for helping clients build their business credit effortlessly. It stands for Most Dominant Ever. Someday I might have to put down a basketball and have a regular 9-to-5 like everybody else. 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. Sack Daddy, Sack-a-shaq are nicknames for Shaq Lawson. However, it was the first season in O'Neal's career that his scoring average dropped below 20points per game. O'Neal was named MVP of the NBA Finals all three times and had the highest scoring average for a center in NBA Finals history.[62]. You're in luck. [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. [28], The Orlando Magic drafted O'Neal with the 1st overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft. He was not yet done collecting nicknames. I feel the same way about 32 and 33 on this list. They contended that O'Neal was worth more than $20million per year, particularly given that lesser players earned almost the same amount. Larry Bird Championships: He Defeated the Best! He appeared in cameo roles in the films Freddy Got Fingered, Jack and Jill and Scary Movie 4. May 1, 2006). Shaquille O'Neal, however, has more than your average sports star. "I like to play people one-on-one. The racial quote from his song was "it's like a white boy trying to be more nigga than me."[176]. [253][254] After weeks of discussion, the match was cancelled. No thanks. Shaq was not quite the last actual center to play the game. It occurred on March 13, 2001, when Pierced dropped 42 points on Shaq . Copyright 2023 Sports Nostalgia HQ | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme, By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. And the only thing that can kill Superman is Kryptonite. [268] He has also been an active real estate entrepreneur. As a blog dedicated to sports history, I am drawn to the idea if not the actual nickname. I write about games, players and seasons from the past. ", "Miami Heat Player Countdown: 15. Excluding those that he adopted later in his career like Big Shaqtus or Big Shamrock here are the noms de plume that Shaq (also a nickname) went by during his time in Los Angeles. [248] O'Neal eliminated Damien Sandow, and had another confrontation with Big Show before being eliminated himself by most of the other wrestlers. Shaquille O'Neal, the 7 ft 1 (216 cm) basketball professional, is an NBA champion four times in his 19 years of career and game-centers or five all of Shaq's career. This does not influence our choices. 7. He is now a sports analyst on a television program 'Inside the NBA'. However, on November 10, 2009, Shaunie filed an intent to divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Shaquille O' Neal has arguably been the best media personality in the entire NBA for around a decade now. The Lakers had hoped O'Neal would take less money due to his age, physical conditioning, and games missed due to injuries. I cant keep typing out Shaquille ONeal, so I needed to get the Shaq nickname on record early in the list. 9. Shaquille O'Neal, popularly known by his nickname 'Shaq' is a retired American professional basketball player. O'Neal referred to Divac as "she", and said he would never exaggerate contact to draw a foul. I'm an unorthodox type of guy, a funny guyat least I think I'm funny. Both The Big Cactus and our next entry come from Shaqs late-career foray around the league. Charles Barkley has been the recipient of many nicknames during his career as a basketball player and an analyst, such as Sir Charles, Chuck, and the Round Mound of Rebound. The man could spit fire in addition to throwing it down. I like the history of the game. L.C.L. the name of one of the worst video games in history. [143] He led the NBA in field goal percentage 10 times, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record of nine. It rhymes with Shaqs name and works as a solid nickname. What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. His father and mother were 6ft 1in (1.85m) and 6ft 2in (1.88m) tall, respectively, and by age 13, O'Neal was already 6ft 6in (1.98m) tall. Tell him howhis cake tastesladies. "[303], O'Neal married Shaunie Nelson on December 26, 2002. He'll probably get a job on television and continue to make the NBA the fun league of America. Agave is a plant native to the dry, hot parts of the Southwestern U.S. and parts of South America. In reference to his completion of his MBA degree, he stated: "It's just something to have on my resume for when I go back into reality. [117], O'Neal said he did not "compete with little guys who run around dominating the ball, throwing up 30 shots a nightlike DWade, Kobe." Catch meon the next edition of Lake's ShaqReport, better known asThe Cake Report. Kobe All That You Can Be Bryant 17. O'Neal was upset that coach Lenny Wilkens played Robinson more minutes in the final game; Wilkens previously explained to O'Neal that it would probably be Robinson's last Olympics. Love you. 1 on Lake's list? While rapping, O'Neal blamed Bryant for his divorce from his wife Shaunie and claims to have received a vasectomy, as part of a rhyme. I couldnt name another ballet dancer if my life depended on it! It comes from an age when adding eezy to things made them sound like slang: Instead of off the hook, for sure; people said: Off the heezy fo sheezy. [166] Yao joked, "Chinese is hard to learn. folder_opendo soulmates separate and reunite. And Shaq is one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the world. [23] His 791 rebounds during the 1989 season remains a state record for a player in any classification. [203], In June 2008, the Bedford County, Virginia, and Maricopa County, Arizona, sheriff departments revoked O'Neal special deputyship after a video surfaced of him rapping about Kobe Bryant and using racial slurs. [184][185][186], O'Neal left LSU for the NBA after three years. [110] Celtics coach Doc Rivers agreed to the signing on the condition that O'Neal would not receive preferential treatment, nor could he cause any locker room problems like in Los Angeles or Miami. The Prophecy 21. Please logout and login again. Riley soon after decided to trade O'Neal. The Big Aristotle, The Big Cactus, and Dr. Shaq Wilt Chamberneezy are some of his aliases. O'Neal had a natural talent for rapping and signed with Jive Records and, in 1993, released his debut album, Shaq Diesel. 32 before college. Although O'Neal averaged career lows (or near-lows) in points, rebounds, and blocks, he said in an interview "Stats don't matter. 3. From bestowing nicknames such as Paul "The Truth" Pierce, Dwyane "Flash" Wade, and Tim "Big Fundamental" Duncan to dawning several himself, Shaq has more talent for aliases than Jennifer Garner. [242][243] His favorite wrestlers are Tony Atlas, Junkyard Dog, Andr the Giant, and Brock Lesnar. Three letters as your nickname. But this ranks lower because it also has The Big X formula. But Evander Real Deal Holyfield had it first! Since Shaq was the youngest of that group of Hall of Fame legends, it makes sense that he was the Last Center Left. [22], After returning from Germany, O'Neal's family settled in San Antonio, Texas. I don't wanna end up in the booth after the games telling you what I think and talking smack about the guys on the floor when they are a lot better than that. Big Baby [Glen Davis] breaks my hand and I had to sit out five weeks late in the year. On June 3, 2011, O'Neal held a press conference at his home in Orlando to officially announce his retirement.[132]. Toney struggled with drug addiction and was imprisoned for drug possession when O'Neal was an infant. [201] Shortly thereafter, in Miami, O'Neal witnessed a hate crime (assaulting a man while calling out homophobic slurs) and called Miami-Dade police, describing the suspect and helping police, over his cell phone, track the offender. What Was Michael Jordans Playoff Record? Michael Jordans Prime: The Greatest of All Time, Who has the most rings in the NBA? eBay (eeobe08) Add to watchlist. [8], O'Neal's individual accolades include the 19992000 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award; the 199293 NBA Rookie of the Year award; 15 All-Star Game selections, three All-Star Game MVP awards; three Finals MVP awards; two scoring titles; 14 All-NBA team selections, and three NBA All-Defensive Team selections. Shaq said From this day on, I want to be known as The Big Aristotle, because Aristotle once said excellence is not a singular act, its a habit. This is a nice try too, though. O'Neal began at LSU in 1989 and, according to him, knew he wanted to finish with his degree no matter what.. Three years later, he left for the NBA and put his educational . (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. The Twitterer. Shaquille O'Neal 5,250. I come back finally in the first round of the playoffs, and we lost to Boston in the second round. access_time23 junio, 2022. person. [34] He was voted into the All-Star game and also made the All-NBA 3rd Team. He was angered by being overlooked for the 1999 FIBA AmeriCup squad, saying it was a "lack of respect". His role in the offense diminished, as he attempted only 10 field goals per game, versus his career average of 17. MDE suffers from the same problems as a nickname as the last entry on this list: L.C.L. O'Neal was featured alongside Michael Jackson as a guest rapper on "2 Bad", a song from Jackson's 1995 album HIStory. Riley felt O'Neal was wrong for maligning his former teammates. The Big Shamrock -- Shaq adopted "The Big Shamrock" during his short time in Boston. "[167] O'Neal later expressed regret for the way he treated Yao early in his career. Knowing this, you'd think O'Neal would be a lock as a top 10 all-time player . The Bulls swept the Heat, the first time in 50years a defending NBA champion was swept in the opening round. Shaquille O'Neal Basketball, Know How, Knows Discovery Sports to continue as a host on Inside the NBA.[238]. Shaq always had unique interests and was a rapper with lyrics that always answered his real-life stories. How Shaquille O'Neal Got All Of His Famous Nicknames - YouTube 0:00 / 11:50 Intro #shaq #nicknames #nba How Shaquille O'Neal Got All Of His Famous Nicknames Andy Hoops 479K subscribers. I would swap them, but I cant figure this one out. The Big Shamrock Shaq adopted "The Big Shamrock" during his short time in Boston. It refers to the idea that he was the Last Center Left. Shaq picked up many nicknames throughout his career, including "The Diesel", "Shaq Fu", "The Big Daddy", "Superman", "The Big Agave" and much more. 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". I have no idea when or why Shaq gave himself this nickname. They include some great names like The Big Aristotle and some less-great names like Witness Protection. [131] He received the position in return for breaking news of his NBA retirement on the service. This one comes from Shaq saying he has two sides: 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. The Shaq Fu is mesmerized by the 'Greek Freak' Giant Antetokounmpo's dominance inside the paint, taking the ball to the hole, throwing it down without any flip shots reminded everyone and O'Neal himself when young. 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 He ranks 8th all-time in points scored, 6th in field goals, 15th in rebounds, and 8th in blocks. [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. 9", "SLAM 500 Greatest NBA Players of All Time | Basketball-Reference.com", "NBA All-Time Player Rankings: Top 10 Centers", "Shaquille O'Neal traded to Cleveland Cavaliers for 3 players, cash", "Void filled: 15-time All-Star Shaquille O'Neal to Celtics", "Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Announcement presented by Haggar Clothing Company", "Dream Team, Shaq and Kukoc headline 2017 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame Inductees", "How Shaq Became The Biggest DJ On The Planet", "Kings Guard Gaming Names Shaquille O'Neal First General Manager", "Shaq to biological father: 'I don't hate you', "Shaq Sets Bar High for Young Lives, BIG Stories Campaign", "Key Moments In Shaquille O'neal History", "Shaquille Shows Class In Switching To No. Throughout his playing career, he picked up (and gave himself) more nicknames than anybody other than maybe pro wrestlers and Sean Combs. Thunder-hacking dunksShaq has thembut he can also dance in the lane and on stage. Alas, the Cavs lost to the Boston Celtics in the 2nd round of the playoffs and Shaq moved to Boston himself the next year. [161][162][163] During the 2002 victory parade, O'Neal declared that Sacramento would never be the capital of California,[164] after the Lakers beat the Kings in a tough seven-game series en route to its third championship with O'Neal. Shaq blames himself for the failed marriage and says he made mistakes and was "greedy. Seriously, the Big Banana. [281] He has owned and sold 155 Five Guys restaurantsabout 10% of all locationsand owns 17 Auntie Anne's restaurants. [325][326][327], On January 31, 2012, O'Neal was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans. O'Neal also won the scoring title while finishing second in rebounds and third in blocked shots. Superman -- Clark Kent and Shaq. O'Neal only made one three-point shot during his entire career. [324] O'Neal is a Prince Hall Freemason. I was upset. At his introductory press conference, Shaq said My motto is very simple: Win a ring for the King and My job is to protect the King. She is lovely. Coach Del Harris was fired, and former Lakers forward Kurt Rambis finished the season as head coach. Shaquille O'Neal, who recently signed with the Boston Celtics, appealed to his new fans for a new nickname. Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Knicks guard Jalen Brunson were named the NBA's Players of the Month, the league announced ( via Twitter ). Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (/kil/ sh-KEEL; born March 6, 1972), known commonly as "Shaq" (/k/ SHAK), is an American former professional basketball player who is a sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. [57], Matched up against the Sacramento Kings in the 2002 Western Conference finals, O'Neal said, "There is only one way to beat us. In the summer of 2005, when asked about Bryant, he responded, "I'm sorry, who?" Shaq's ex-ladyNicole "Nikki" "Hoopz". Nicknames are usually used by people who share a similar personality trait or characteristic. #25. . Shaq Daddy -- The Hall of Famer is one of the biggest personalities in the business. Not a great name. Shaq Fu Kupchak wanted the Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki in return but Mavericks owner Mark Cuban refused to let his 7-footer go. Football has surprisingly few great nicknames, particularly for QBs. [118] Privately, he wanted to start, but kept it to himself. The two argued face-to-face, with O'Neal poking Riley in the chest and Riley slapping his finger away. Lakers assistant coach Tex Winter said, "Shaq defeated himself against Detroit. "[235][236][237], In October 2022, O'Neal signed a long-term contract extension with Warner Bros. The two would meet in the 2006 NBA Finals. During a preseason game, O'Neal had yelled at Lakers owner Jerry Buss, "Pay me. [9] Due to his ability to dunk the basketball and score from close range, O'Neal also ranks third all-time in field goal percentage (58.2%) and led the league in field goal percentage ten times. O'Neal was a capable defender, named three times to the All-NBA Second Defensive Team. [79], In the Finals, the Heat were underdogs against the Dallas Mavericks led by Dirk Nowitzki, and the Mavericks won the first two games at home in dominating fashion. Were doing the Big X again? It also became the name of one of the worst video games in history. He quickly became one of the best centers in the league, winning Rookie of the Year in 199293 and leading his team to the 1995 NBA Finals.