Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal, born March 6, 1972, is an American former professional basketball player and sports analyst on the television show Inside the NBA. O’Neal is widely regarded as one of the best basketball centers of all time.
He is a 7-foot-1-inch (2.16 m) and 325-pound (147 kg) center who played for six teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) over a 19-year career and is a four-time NBA champion.
Early life and Education
Shaquille O’Neal was born on March 6, 1972, in Newark, New Jersey, to Lucille and Joe Toney.
His parents split when he was a baby, and he was raised primarily by his mother in Newark and then on a military base in Wildflecken, West Germany.
At Robert G. Cole High School in San Antonio, Texas, O’Neal began honing his basketball skills.
From 1989 to 1992, he was a member of the men’s basketball team at Louisiana State University (LSU).
During his time at LSU, O’Neal received numerous honors, including SEC Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992 and consensus All-American in 1992.
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Career
During his 19-year NBA career, Shaquille O’Neal played for six different teams, including the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics.
O’Neal has been a dominant force in the NBA since his debut in 1992.
He was elected NBA Rookie of the Year in his rookie season, and he went on to earn 15 NBA All-Star selections, four NBA championships, and three NBA Finals MVP Awards.
From 1996 until 2004, O’Neal was most successful with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he formed a dynamic partnership with fellow Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant. They won three straight NBA championships from 2000 to 2002.
O’Neal retired from the NBA in 2011 with 14 All-NBA selections, two scoring crowns, and the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 1999-2000.
In 2016, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Off the court, O’Neal has a successful business, acting, and television career, as well as involvement in a number of charitable and philanthropic endeavors.
Personal Life
Shaquille O’Nazeal has an active personal life both on and off the court. From 2002 through 2011, O’Neal was married to Shaunie Nelson, with whom he had four children.
He is the father of a fifth kid from a previous marriage.
In addition to his basketball career, O’Neal has worked as a reserve police officer in a variety of jurisdictions, including the Los Angeles Port Police and the Miami Beach Police Department.
Over his career, O’Neal has released several rap albums, including “Shaq Diesel,” which went platinum, and “Respect,” a collaboration with his former Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant.
O’Neal is also a successful businessman, having invested in firms such as Google and Papa John’s Pizza.
He also owns various enterprises, including a Krispy Kreme franchise.
