Tag: shaquille o’neal

How many Boston Celtics are in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame?

No team in NBA history has produced more. How many can you name?

With Boston Celtics Hall of Fame Paul Pierce officially part of the incoming 2021 class and big man Kevin Garnett getting his formal induction into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in May 2021 — nearly a year after getting the nod due to the pandemic — all three members of the so-called “new Big Three” of KG, Pierce and Ray Allen have been ensconced in what serves as the Valhalla of basketball.

But they are far from the only Celtics so honored. In fact, there is a veritable host of Boston legends populating the Hoop Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts, just a short drive away from the NBA’s titletown. The Celtics have more players than any other team in league history.

Let’s take a look at the 40 Celtics who have been honored with a Hall of Fame induction.

Complete list of Boston Celtics in the Basketball Hall of Fame

Celtics Wire celebrates the 48 members of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame with ties to the Boston Celtics franchise.

The Boston Celtics are one of the bedrock franchises in professional sports. Legends such as Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Tommy Heinsohn, Larry Bird, Robert Parish, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett dazzled fans with their athletic exploits and won the NBA championship in Boston.

A couple of hours down the Mass Pike in Springfield, no fewer than four dozen players, coaches, and contributors with ties to the Celtics franchise have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame over the years, spanning the decades from the first years of the storied ball club’s existence up to the team’s last era of contention.

Below, Celtics Wire celebrates the 49 members of the Hall of Fame with Celtics connections in a photo gallery.

HoopsHype ranks LeBron James as its second greatest player in NBA history

LeBron James was No. 2 on HoopsHype’s list of the 77 greatest players ever, and just one of many Lakers greats to make the ranking.

The NBA is about to begin its 78th season, and there are plenty of interesting storylines going into the 2023-24 campaign. One of them is whether LeBron James will continue to play at a high level and lead the Los Angeles Lakers to another world championship, which would be his fifth.

He already has a sterling resume, and his individual accomplishments are almost second to none. While he has won four championships, he has also lost six times in the NBA Finals. Depending on how one perceives James, he or she may consider it a disappointment, or one may consider simply making it to the title series 10 times a massive accomplishment, regardless of how many times he took home the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

The debate about where James ranks among the greatest NBA players ever rages on. HoopsHype just gave its ranking of the 77 greatest players ever, and it had James at No. 2.

Via HoopsHype:

“There have been major developments in LeBron James‘ GOAT case since last year, most notably in the form of the four-time league MVP becoming the NBA’s all-time regular season leading scorer. (He already was No. 1 by a mile in the playoffs). Oh, and he also has the most playoff series wins in league history after a surprising run to the Western Conference Finals last season, though that did end in a sweep loss.

“Now three of the eight HoopsHype staffers taking part in this vote pick him as the best ever. It’s getting close.

“… Few players have ever matched James’ absurd basketball IQ, one that he could use to continue to dominate for the next few seasons as his career winds down.”

If James is fortunate enough to avoid any major injuries, he could continue to add to his legacy and strengthen his argument as arguably the greatest ever over the next couple of years or so.

Shaquille O’Neal tips cap to Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon for 1995 NBA Finals

“I realized that in order to be the best, you have to beat the best,” Shaquille O’Neal says of Hakeem Olajuwon. “That year [1995 NBA Finals] we faced off, and the best won out.” #Rockets

In a show of respect between Hall of Fame centers, former Orlando Magic center Shaquille O’Neal reflected on his team’s loss to the Houston Rockets in a four-game sweep during the 1995 NBA Finals.

On Friday, O’Neal — who works as an analyst for the NBA on TNT — served as “principal for the day” at Pine Shadows Elementary School in Houston’s Spring Branch.

In a wide-ranging interview at the event, Josh Criswell of chron.com asked “Shaq” about his battles with rival Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets. When asked of his greatest takeaway, O’Neal said:

Just him being one of the best ever. I realized that in order to be the best, you have to beat the best. That year we faced off, and the best won out. It just made me a much stronger competitor.

Olajuwon was named NBA Finals MVP after averaging 32.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. O’Neal averaged 28.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in four straight losses.

[lawrence-related id=32481,30021]

Shaquille O’Neal compares coach Deion Sanders to Phil Jackson

One aspect of former NFL star Deion Sanders, the head coach at the University of Colorado Boulder, reminds Shaquille O’Neal of Phil Jackson.

The college football world has been taken by storm ever since Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders became the head coach at the University of Colorado Boulder just prior to this season. Last year, the Buffaloes were a dismal 1-11, but so far this year, they have gone 3-0.

Back in the day, Sanders was known for his outsized personality when he helped the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys win Super Bowl championships. Now, that colorful personality is gracing the sideline for the Buffaloes, and fans cannot get enough of it.

It has reminded Los Angeles Lakers great Shaquille O’Neal of his old head coach, Phil Jackson. At first, it sounds like a very outlandish comparison, especially given that Jackson won 11 NBA championships and had an otherworldly Zen cool about him.

However, when one looks closer at the comparison the legendary center made, it makes more sense.

O’Neal referred to Sanders’ demeanor when the Buffaloes were down big to rival Colorado State University in the fourth quarter on Saturday.

Via TMZ Sports:

“When they were down 15, there was a camera that panned to Deion’s face, and it reminded me of Phil Jackson. And I’ve always said, if the general doesn’t panic, the troops don’t panic,” O’Neal said on the TMZ Sports TV show.

“… I know exactly what the [Colorado players] are going through because when you are standing in front of someone that has an impressive resume, and you’re trying to get to the level he get to, everything you say is golden. I felt that way when Phil Jackson first came to the Lakers,” the NBA legend explained.

“Before [Phil] got there, me and Kobe [Bryant], we got swept all the time. But when he came there and stepped in the locker room and we saw he didn’t panic, so it taught us not to panic. We know that this guy knows what he’s talking about.”

Before Jackson arrived in Los Angeles in 1999, the Lakers had gotten swept in back-to-back postseasons and had a maddening habit of folding like a plastic chair as soon as opponents applied pressure to them in big games. But Jackson’s psychological training and power, along with his famed triangle offense and insistence on winning with defense, instantly resulted in three straight world titles.

Sixers’ Allen Iverson tells story of him trying to foul Shaquille O’Neal

Philadelphia 76ers icon Allen Iverson tells a story of how he tried to stop Los Angeles Lakers star Shaquille O’Neal.

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal is considered by some to be the most dominant big man in the game. For good reason, too, as there was not much teams could do when O’Neal caught the ball in the post. He either was dunking or he was getting fouled. No in-between.

Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson knew this and tried to do something about it. Iverson sat down and told a story about trying to foul O’Neal when he caught the ball in the post.

Now, one must picture this. Iverson was 6-feet tall and 170 pounds. O’Neal was 7-foot-1 and roughly 325 pounds. Iverson told a story of how he tried to jump on O’Neal’s back to foul him, but O’Neal carried him up with him on the slam. Kobe Bryant laughed at Iverson and asked him what he thought he was doing.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxWA5cNgnso/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D

Iverson, of course, had his own great moments against O’Neal. He led the Sixers to the finals in 2001 and handed the Los Angeles Lakers their only loss of that playoff run in Game 1 of that series. Of course, O’Neal and the Lakers got the last laugh.

[lawrence-related id=84132,84090,84074]

10 minutes of ‘Shaqtin a Fool’ from the NBA’s 2022-23 season

While we patiently wait for the NBA’s 2023-24 season to get here in the depths of the summer doldrums, let’s take a look back at the league’s 2022-23 campaign.

While we patiently wait in the depths of the summer doldrums for the NBA’s 2023-24 season to get here, let’s take a look back at the league’s 2022-23 campaign through the eyes of a former Boston Celtic poking a bit of fun at other former Celtics — and pretty much anyone else stepping foot inside an NBA arena.

That would of course be Hall of Fame Boston big man Shaquille O’Neal and his series of video shorts making light of on-court mishaps that has come to be known as “Shaqting a Fool,” compiled into an extended reel for the entirety of the 2022-23 season.

For the uninitiated, buckle up and try not to drink anything while watching. For the rest of you, check out the clip embedded below to see the hijinks for yourself — starting with a memorable moment for Boston fans.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

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

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Rasheed Wallace on guarding fellow Boston Celtics big man Shaquille O’Neal

Sheed opened up on the challenges of defending Shaq and how he adapted his playing style overcome his physical dominance. 

Even though the two big men missed each other by a season on the Boston Celtics’ roster, Rasheed Wallace still looks back to when he had to guard fellow former Celtic Shaquille O’Neal on the court.

Speaking on a recent episode of his Underdog NBA “That’s What Sheed Said” podcast, Wallace reminisced about guarding Shaq during the 2005 Eastern Conference finals.

Sheed opened up on the challenges of defending Shaq and the lessons he learned from teammates like Ben Wallace. He also highlighted how he adapted his playing style, using strategies like picking and popping and stretching the floor to overcome Shaq’s physical dominance.

To hear what Sheed had to say about facing off with another Boston big man alum in Shaq, take a look at 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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Shaq feuded with fellow former Celtic Bill Walton because he doesn’t believe Walton’s on his level

Shaquille O’Neal, one of the greatest centers in basketball history, has had a long-standing beef with Bill Walton.

Shaquille O’Neal, one of the greatest centers in basketball history, has had a long-standing beef with Bill Walton, another legendary NBA center and fellow former Boston Celtic.

This rivalry is rooted in Shaq’s belief that Walton doesn’t deserve the same recognition as other iconic centers. Shaq’s critique primarily centers on Walton’s NBA career, which he deems less impressive than his own and other great centers. However, it’s essential to note Walton’s career was hampered by chronic foot issues that limited his playing time.

Shaq has consistently voiced his disapproval of Walton’s inclusion in the Hall of Fame and even questioned his presence on the NBA 75 list in 2022. This rivalry extends to the media, where the Big Aristotle and Walton have engaged in public spats.

To get the details about this bizarre public feud between two Boston icons, take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what the folks behind the “Secret Base” YouTube channel had to say in their own account of the feud.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

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

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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

HoFer Dominique Wilkins on playing for the Celtics, living in Boston

The Human Highlight Reel opened up about his time in Boston in a recent interview.

Hall of Fame small forward Dominique Wilkins only played for the Boston Celtics, but the storied ball club left quite the impression on the Human Highlight Reel. Speaking in a recent interview with “Vlad TV” podcast host DJ Vlad, ‘Nique opened up about his time in green and white.

Joining the team at the request of iconic team president Red Auerbach, Wilkins related his positive experiences living in Boston and dismissed the oft-repeated claims of racism during his time living there as a player and after he retired from the game. During that era, Boston did not return to their former glory, but they made the playoffs and ultimately lost to the young Orlando Magic team led by Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway.

To hear the story for yourself from Wilkins, take a look at 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

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]