Tag: shaquille o’neal

Shaquille O’Neal had the sweetest reaction to hearing his Magic jersey would be retired

This is so cool for Shaq and all Magic fans.

Shaquille O’Neal found out some exciting news on the latest edition of Inside the NBA, something that’s a long time coming for the basketball legend.

The broadcast crew surprised O’Neal with a video call from Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins, who shared that O’Neal will become the first former Magic player to have his jersey retired by the franchise.

O’Neal seemed genuinely touched by the news as he took a very humble approach to reacting to the career accomplishment.

As zany as Inside the NBA can get, moments like this remind you why it’s one of the best sports shows on television right now.

This is just such an awesome moment for O’Neal and Magic fans everywhere, as perhaps the best-ever player to take the court for the franchise will finally be enshrined in Orlando history.

The No. 32 will belong to O’Neal for the rest of time, and watching him react to the news was just so moving.

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Is former Boston big man Shaquille O’Neal the king of beefs?

Even as a big man emeritus, Shaq refuses to let go of grudges, exemplified by his ongoing campaign to besmirch Walton’s resume.

Former Boston Celtics big man Shaquille O’Neal is not just known for his on-court dominance but also for his penchant for beefs and rivalries with his peers on the court.

Shaq’s relationships with his fellow players during his Hall of Fame playing career have at times been fraught, as captured in a documentary put together by the folks behind the “Secret Base” YouTube channel. Focusing on his intriguing beef with fellow Boston big man alum Bill Walton and the tumultuous dynamics he had with coach Stan Van Gundy long before joining the Celtics to name a few, the Big Aristotle is no stranger to beef. Even as a big man emeritus, Shaq refuses to let go of grudges, exemplified by his ongoing campaign to besmirch Walton’s resume.

These beefs, whether on the court or off, add layers to Shaq’s legacy, showcasing a player unafraid to speak his mind.

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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Shaquille O’Neal dislikes Michael Jordan jersey in Heat rafters

Former Miami Heat big man Shaquille O’Neal is not happy that Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan’s jersey is in Miami’s rafters.

Michael Jordan is one of the greatest athletes of all time. During his time with the Chicago Bulls, he was nothing short of dominant, and all throughout the 1990s, he did nothing but win. He won six championships in an eight-year period, taking two years off in the middle to pursue a career in baseball.

With the amount of stardom he earned, Jordan was a known figure around the globe, and his greatness is still respected to this day. He’s widely regarded as the best player in NBA history, and obviously, the Bulls retired his number. But they weren’t the only team. Jordan’s jersey is also in the Miami Heat’s rafters as well.

The team respected Jordan so much they felt the need to retire his number, but some players disagree with the move. Former Heat big man and NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal recently voiced his displeasure with the decision.

“I hate the fact that they hang up other people’s jerseys,” O’Neal said via his podcast, ‘The Big Podcast with Shaq.’ “I hope I’m not disrespecting anybody by this term. This thing is ours. This is what we built. Michael Jordan ain’t never play for the Heat. Bill Russell ain’t never play for the Heat. You did your own thing with your little Celtics family and Chicago family. But this Miami thing? I was one of the original championship families… this is our thing. So I don’t like that, personally.”

Heat Culture is a real thing, and based on the opinion of O’Neal, if you didn’t experience it and play in it, your number shouldn’t be in the rafters.

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Fans were gifted Kobe Bryant-themed t-shirts for attending Lakers vs. Celtics on Christmas

This was a cool move by the Lakers and Nike Basketball.

Fans who took the trip to watch the Lakers play the Celtics on Christmas had a memorable and meaningful gift waiting for them at their seats.

Those in the arena were given special t-shirts with a tribute to the late Los Angeles legend Kobe Bryant, who played sixteen games on Christmas Day during his professional career.

Bryant is often associated with playing well on Christmas Day. In fact, per HoopsHype, LeBron James is the only player in league history to have more points scored on the holiday than Bryant recorded during his time in the NBA.

Surprisingly, per Stathead, only one of the games Bryant played on Christmas was against the Celtics. That was a victory in 2008 when Bryant scored 27 points while adding nine rebounds and five assists.

The Lakers lost to the Celtics in the NBA Finals earlier in that calendar year but went on to win the championship later that season. It was the first title in Bryant’s career that he won without Shaquille O’Neal as a teammate.

But considering the rivalry between the two sides, the Celtics were still a perfect opponent for the Lakers to issue the “That’s Mamba” t-shirts as an awesome giveaway.

The t-shirt handed out to fans is in collaboration with Nike Basketball. The brand recently released billboards (among other activations) with the same catchphrase in New York City as well.

Nike will release the “Black Mamba” Nike Kobe 4 Protro and a “Mamba Mentality” apparel line on Dec. 27.

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Shaq on why Steph Curry could be in GOAT conversation (and is ‘WAY’ better than himself)

Shaq thinks it’s time to start having that conversation about Steph Curry.

Shaquille O’Neal is ready to have the talk.

After seeing Steph Curry deliver an incredible comeback effort to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 132-126 victory over the Boston Celtics, Shaq was on the air with Inside the NBA to talk about just how amazing the guard is.

O’Neal wondered if it’s time to put Curry in the GOAT player conversation. He’s not ready to declare it, but he’s heading in that direction. What Shaq did admit is Curry is “WAY” better than he was.

His thought: Curry is consistently good, he has titles and we’ve never seen a player like him. Makes sense to me to wonder if we’re heading in this direction:

Zion Williamson gracefully responds to harsh diet criticism from Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley

Zion had no problem with what was said if it was coming from a productive place.

After the Pelicans were eliminated from the NBA’s In-Season Tournament, New Orleans star Zion Williamson was the subject of criticism.

Williamson, who was on the wrong end of a 44-point loss against the Los Angeles Lakers, scored just 13 points while grabbing only two rebounds in the defeat. During the postgame coverage on TNT’s Inside the NBA, former NBA stars Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley had plenty to say.

O’Neal and Barkley both shared tough love for Williamson, who reportedly “does not listen” to the Pelicans when they offer advice about his diet and conditioning. O’Neal admitted that he struggled with many of the same issues when he first turned pro.

During his first game after the loss against the Lakers, Williamson produced one of his best performances of the season. He finished with 36 points (13-of-17 FG) as well as five rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block.

Following the game, he was asked about the comments from O’Neal and Barkley. Here is what he said:

“If it comes from a great place [where] they just wanna see me do better, thank you. If it comes from anywhere else, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Can’t control that.”

This was a measured and thoughtful reaction from Williamson, who still has the talent to prove himself as one of the better players in the NBA when he is healthy and focused.

While not all critiques of Williamson are in good faith, O’Neal and Barkley are both coming at this from the perspective of players who have had similar experiences in the league.

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Former LSU women’s basketball star Seimone Augustus elected to Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame

Seimone Augustus will be immortalized in the Hall of Fame after a legendary playing career.

Former LSU women’s basketball standout [autotag]Seimone Augustus[/autotag] was elected to the 2024 induction class of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

A star for the Tigers from 2002-06, she received multiple national player of the year awards in both 2005 and 2006. She led the team to three consecutive Final Fours, was named a First Team All-American three times and became one of just five LSU players to reach the 2,000-point mark. She currently ranks second all-time in scoring in program history.

Augustus’ No. 33 jersey was retired by LSU in 2010, and she became the first female LSU athlete with a statue in the Plaza of Legacy, joining [autotag]Pete Maravich[/autotag], [autotag]Shaquille O’Neal[/autotag] and [autotag]Bob Pettit[/autotag].

“When you think about all the qualities involved in being a Hall of Fame player, no one checks all the boxes like Seimone,” LSU associate head coach Bob Starkey, who coached Augustus during her time at LSU, said in a release. “But what brings me the most pride is that she was a hall of fame person and teammate as well — I know of no one more deserving.”

The first overall pick in the 2006 WNBA draft, Augustus was a four-time league champion and eight-time All-Star. She was also named the WNBA Finals MVP in 2011 and has won three gold medals in the Olympics with Team USA.

Augustus retired in 2021 and spent two seasons as an assistant in the WNBA after her playing career. She will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame on April 27 at the Tennessee Theater in Knoxville.

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Angel Reese thanks Shaq for his support after her return to LSU basketball: ‘This too shall pass’

Angel Reese credits Shaq for reaching out to her everyday with one simple, but impactful phrase.

Shaquille O’Neal is a man of his word. He’s got nothing but love for “the GOAT.”

In October, after joining Reebok’s upper leadership, Shaq immediately picked LSU women’s basketball star Angel Reese as the first athlete to sign an NIL deal with the company.

During the partnership announcement, he praised Reese: “For my first appointment in this role, it had to be the GOAT. There is no one making a bigger impact on the game right now than Angel Reese.”

It seems that those weren’t just words but possibly a reflection of how the former basketball great feels about Reese. During her recent absence from basketball, Shaq reached out to her with encouragement.

Paul Pierce believes the Boston Celtics could have won another title had Shaq not gotten hurt

“We (had) a great start before Diesel got hurt,” said Pierce.

In the twilight of his illustrious NBA career, Hall of Fame big man Shaquille O’Neal joined forces with fellow HoFers Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce as a part of the Boston Celtics’ title contending roster for the 2010-11 NBA season, but the partnership was a snakebit one almost from the start.

Speaking on an episode of Garnett’s Showtime Basketball “KG Certified” podcast, Pierce recounted what it was like playing with the Big Aristotle. “I love Shaq as a teammate,” said Pierce. “But the only thing I didn’t like about Shaq was when I was on the bench and he was on the bench, he was taking up like three seats.”

But jokes aside, The Truth believed that had Shaq not gotten injured part way through the regular season, Boston might have won another title. “I am telling you, if we had him healthy, I think we would have won it that year,” said Pierce.

“We (had) a great start before Diesel got hurt,” explained the Inglewood native. “We beat (the Miami Heat) with LeBron, yeah he was rolling. We were 23 and 4 before Diesel got hurt.”

Between this and the injury to Kendrick Perkins, it’s a fair claim to make to suggest the long-coveted Banner 18 might have been won that season had the injury bug not reared its head in a big way.

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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Q&A: Shaquille O’Neal talks rapping with Damian Lillard, running Reebok hoops and helping his community

No, Shaq isn’t dropping a hip-hop album anytime soon. But don’t worry — we’ll keep begging him to.

Shaquille O’Neal is a man of many talents, but you already knew that. The dude is always busy.

For decades, we saw Shaq dunking on people at historic rates throughout his Hall of Fame NBA career. Now we mostly see him in segments on TNT’s Inside the NBA show, widely regarded as the best sports show on television.

And of course, if you wait long enough you’ll see him in a commercial for one of the many brands he’s working with — and, trust me, there are a lot.

When he’s not doing that, he’s extending helping hands out into the community like he’s currently doing with Icy Hot.

Shaq partnered with Icy Hot — another one of the brands he works with — to build a new “Comebaq Court” at the Challengers Boys & Girls Club in Los Angeles. The latest court is part of a nationwide effort between Shaq and Icy Hot to refurbish basketball courts in underserved communities across the country.

Along with LA so far, the partnership has rebuilt courts in Miami, Newark, Atlanta and Las Vegas. Shaq took a bit of time to chat with For The Win about the Comebaq Court initiative amongst other questions including his upcoming work as the president of Reebok basketball as well as his latest hip-hop feature on a track with Rick Ross, Meek Mill and Damian Lillard. Yes, it gets a little spicy.

RELATED: A look back between the back-and-forth between Damian Lillard and Shaq.

You can read the interview in full below.

Editor’s Note: This Q&A has been lightly edited for brevity