Tag: shaquille o’neal

Boston’s Rasheed Wallace on the first time he battled Shaq, Kobe in the playoffs

Wallace put up an impressive performance, showcasing his agility and skills against the dominant Shaq.

On April 30, 1997, future Boston Celtics forward Rasheed Wallace, then a young player with the Portland Trail Blazers, faced the Los Angeles Lakers in a pivotal playoff game. This game marked the beginning of the intense Lakers-Blazers rivalry that dominated the playoffs for the next three years.

Rasheed reflected on this memorable game on an episode of his Underdog NBA “That’s What Sheed Said” podcast. He discussed the challenges of playing against a formidable Lakers team that included Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Nick Van Exel. Despite being one of the younger players on his team, Wallace put up an impressive performance, showcasing his agility and skills against the dominant Shaq.

To hear the story of that epic collision between two eventual Celtics teammates from Sheed himself, check out the clip embedded below.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. 36

Today’s installment focuses on the two players who wore No. 36 over the years as of August 2023.

The Boston Celtics have more retired jerseys than any other team in the NBA, but that doesn’t mean the rest of their jerseys have little history of interest tied to them.

In fact, with 17 titles to their name and decades of competitive basketball played in them, their unretired jersey numbers pack in some of the most history not hanging from the rafters of any team in the league. To that end, we have launched our accounting of that history, with every player in every jersey worn by more than one Celtics player in the storied franchise’s history accounted for.

Today’s installment focuses on the two players who wore No. 36 over the years as of August 2023.

Austin Reaves gives his all-time Team USA starting five

Austin Reaves was asked which four retired Team USA players he’d want with him in his ultimate starting five, and he chose three Lakers.

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The United States has consistently been the greatest country in the world when it comes to basketball, and it has often proven just that during international play, whether it has been the Olympics or the FIBA World Cup.

Ever since NBA players were first allowed to participate in the 1992 Olympics, the squad has won the gold medal in seven of eight summer Olympic competitions. However, it has had less success during the World Cup. It has taken home the gold three times in the last 30 years.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves is trying to do something about that by playing for Team USA while it gears up for this year’s World Cup.

He was asked which four retired Team USA players he would put alongside him in his ultimate starting five, and along with Michael Jordan, he named three Lakers: Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James.

Bryant helped Team USA recover from a disastrous third-place finish in the 2004 Olympics and led it to gold medals in 2008 and 2012 along with James. O’Neal, meanwhile, won the gold in the 1996 Olympics.

Former Celtic Shaquille O’Neal snubbed on Jeannie Buss’ all-time Los Angeles Lakers list

The Big Aristotle seems to be taking it in stride publicly.

If, as one of the handful of people to play for both franchises, former Boston Celtics big man Shaquille O’Neal has ever felt torn between the team he retired from and the club he won a trio of titles with, one would think he would side with the Los Angeles Lakers.

But a snub by Laker owner Jeannie Buss, who disclosed in July her all-time favorite players from the Los Angeles-based team, could tip the scales.

While the Big Aristotle seems to be taking it in stride publicly, that has not stopped others from debating just how egregious an omission it really was.

The hosts of the I Am Athlete “Paper Route” podcast recently convened to talk it over.

Check out the clip of their discussion embedded above to hear their thoughts on whether Buss did Shaq dirty with her admittedly subjective list.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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On this day: Shaq signs, Robert Parish leaves, Tiny Archibald trade; Arnie Risen passes

On this date in Boston Celtics history, the team added Shaquille O’Neal and Nate Archibald but lost Robert Parish in free agency.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the team signed Hall of Fame big man Shaquille “Shaq” Rashaun O’Neal to the final stint of his storied career.  The Newark, New Jersey native was enticed by the principal owner of the Celtics Wyc Grousbeck, who used O’Neal’s rivalry with Kobe Bryant over the number of banners each had won to convince him to sign with Boston.

After securing head coach Doc Rivers’ approval on an assurance there would be no locker room subterfuge as had followed Shaq in the past. O’Neal signed a two-year minimum deal worth $2.8 million on this date on this date in 2010.

Shaq’s tenure as a Celtic did not result in a ring for him, with injury to him and several teammates derailing a Finals run and ultimately ending in his retirement from the sport at the end of the 2010-11 season.

Shaquille O’Neal responds to Julius Erving’s list of 10 greatest NBA players ever

Julius Erving recently gave his list of his 10 greatest NBA players, and Lakers great Shaquille O’Neal responded with his own ranking.

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Julius Erving may have retired from the NBA in 1987 and kept a low profile in the years since, but he hasn’t been shy about his opinions on the modern game.

He recently offered his list of the 10 greatest NBA players of all time. It was a somewhat controversial list because it didn’t include LeBron James, Kobe Bryant or Stephen Curry.

Los Angeles Lakers great Shaquille O’Neal was another legend who was excluded from Erving’s list. O’Neal told the Los Angeles Times that he didn’t have a problem with Erving’s list.

However, he proceeded to give his own top-10 list, which was considerably different from Erving’s list (h/t Lakers Daily).

Via Los Angeles Times:

“He said his first team, in no particular order, was Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron James and then ‘(expletive) me,’” wrote Broderick Turner.

“O’Neal said coming off his bench would be (Stephen) Curry, Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan, (Karl) Malone and Isiah Thomas,”

At first, it seemed as if O’Neal had snubbed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who is considered by some to be the greatest center ever. But he then made an amendment to his list.

“O’Neal paused for a moment, adding, ‘also, you got to put Kareem on that second team, too,’ which, of course, is now a top 11,” wrote Turner.

While Erving’s ranking had an abundance of players from many decades ago, the majority of the players on O’Neal’s list played in the NBA within the last quarter-century.

Celtics legend Kevin Garnett, And1 icon The Professor pick their all-time starting five

They also discuss the athleticism and skills of players from different eras.

When it comes to Hall of Fame Boston Celtics big man Kevin Garnett and And1 street ball legend The Professor, you would be hard-pressed to find two greater scholars of the game of basketball.

In a recent episode of the Showtime Basketball “KG Certified” podcast, the duo discussed their all-time NBA starting five teams and reflect on the evolution of the game. KG selected a team consisting of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Shaquille O’Neal, while The Professor went more old school with Allen Iverson, Kobe, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for his squad.

They also discuss the athleticism and skills of players from different eras, recognizing the physicality and underestimated abilities of past generations.

To hear the logic behind each of their selections and their talk about how the league has changed over the decades, check out the clip embedded above.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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How former Celtic Shaquille O’Neal built his post-playing career business empire

The Big Aristotle invested early in Google and Apple, reaping significant rewards, and also made a successful investment in Ring, among others.

Shaquille O’Neal is worth $400 million thanks to a massive business empire built through smart investments and diverse ventures dating to his early years in the NBA. The former Boston Celtic heeded advice from his stepfather to be wise with his money, and he also received guidance from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The Big Aristotle invested early in Google and Apple, reaping significant rewards, and he also made a successful investment in Ring, which was later acquired by Amazon for $1 billion. His business empire includes food chains, car washes and partnerships with companies such as Papa John’s.

He has ventured into fitness with ownership of 40 24-Hour Fitness gyms, and the list goes on and on.

To hear more about the business acumen of the Celtics short-timer, check out the clip embedded above courtesy of the folks behind the Clutch Points YouTube channel.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Tyrann Mathieu breaks down his top five LSU athletes of all time

Tyrann Mathieu breaks down his top five LSU Tigers athletes of all time, admits he’s ‘a little biased’ with top choice

Tyrann Mathieu’s presence on the New Orleans Saints has lived up to expectations — after leading the team in solo tackles and interceptions last season, the veteran safety has continued to lead the charge on and off the field. Mathieu recently coached up dozens of young athletes from the New Orleans community at his Heart of a Badger youth football camp at the Saints’ Metairie practice facility, and afterwards he fielded questions from the local media.

Here’s a fun one. Mathieu made some compelling arguments for his choices when asked to rank his top-five LSU Tigers by Jacob Verdin of The Verdin Verdict sports talk show:

14 athletes with incredible seasons (Connor McDavid!) who egregiously weren’t named unanimous MVP

A list of superstars who dominated but weirdly didn’t get universal MVP praise.

Winning a unanimous MVP in sports is one of those eccentric, niche milestones that seemingly only truly great superstars can achieve. But with these honors usually voted on by media members — who are fans of the sport they cover first — sometimes, perspective can be lost in the shuffle.

Because to be a unanimous MVP means you were the undisputed best player in the world in your respective league or sport. No questions asked. At least, that’s what a clean-sweep vote essentially dictates.

You were a cut above, and everyone else paled compared to your brilliance. (Never mind that all of these votes are inherently subjective.)

Despite a historic 2022-2023 NHL season, Connor McDavid wasn’t a unanimous MVP. It’s mind-boggling as to why. But McDavid certainly isn’t the first major sports star to lose out on this distinction that would probably only bother Hall of Famers. There’s a laundry list of athletes who put on an all-time show for an entire year, only for some people to say their excellence actually wasn’t the best.

Across four of the major American sports leagues — the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL — here’s a look at a few stars who probably should’ve received unanimous MVP honors. Note: This list is not a ranking of egregiousness. It is in chronological order by year from top to bottom.