[40] Another question in the poll asked whether O'Neal was worth $115million, in reference to the amount of the Magic's offer; 91.3% of the response said it was not. In 1999, prior to the 19992000 season, the Lakers hired Phil Jackson as head coach, and the team's fortunes soon changed. Before he became The Big Shamrock in Boston, he became The Big Cactus in Phoenix. What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. [17][18][19] O'Neal remained estranged from his biological father for decades; O'Neal had not spoken with Toney or expressed an interest in establishing a relationship. The back-story nickname. Shaq was not quite the last actual center to play the game. At the gym, he used the nickname Diesel. CHARLOTTE, N.C. The irony wasn't lost on Kevin Durant as he walked down a back hallway at the Spectrum Center, exiting the building . Shaq is the person of nicknames, for he is the best player of his time in NBA history. [281] He has owned and sold 155 Five Guys restaurantsabout 10% of all locationsand owns 17 Auntie Anne's restaurants. He contributed three tracks, including the song "We Genie", to the Kazaam soundtrack. [14] He has appeared in numerous films and has starred in his own reality shows, Shaq's Big Challenge and Shaq Vs. 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. . O'Neal had been made an "honorary deputy" by the local sheriff's department. He got upset when Dwight Howard started calling himself Superman as well. Since Shaq was the youngest of that group of Hall of Fame legends, it makes sense that he was the Last Center Left. The Boston Pops perform a holiday concert every winter. Whether or not Sir Charles is still over 300 pounds determines how effective the nickname is as a joke, but it did still get a laugh out of the rest of the crew. The Spurs would go on to win their first NBA title in 1999. I needed to learn the secrets". is an abbreviated nickname Shaq gave himself. As a play off one of his other nicknames, The Big Aristotle, Shaq went with "The Big Cactus" because why not? [312][313] Shareef played in college for the UCLA Bruins before transferring to LSU. Upon signing with the Heat, O'Neal promised the fans that he would bring a championship to Miami. 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. Shaquille O'Neal had at least 34 nicknames and he gave himself most of them. @SHAQ's first appearance on AEW was comedy Rolling on the floor laughing *NSFW*", "Brandi Rhodes throws water, swears at Shaq on AEW Dynamite", "Shaq will wrestle in mixed tag match on 'AEW Dynamite', "Watch: Shaq goes through tables, wins in mixed tag-team match on AEW", "Shaquille O'Neal on AEW: Shaq goes through a table and picks up a win in his All Elite Wrestling debut", "Shaquille O'Neal, the king of franchises: 155 burger joints, 40 gyms and a $400 million fortune", "Shaq Attacks IPO Access, Invests in Loyal3", "Shaq: I can help homeowners fight off foreclosure", "Star Comes Home to Build in Newark Shaquille O'Neal in Real Estate Development Partnership", "Shaq comes back to Newark to break ground for city's first high-rise apartment in more than 50 years", "Booker, Shaquille O'Neal and other dignitaries break ground on new high-rise apartments", "NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY: Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Program: Approved Projects", "Shaquille O'Neal buys a stake in the Sacramento Kings", "Shaquille O'Neal officially sells his stake in Sacramento Kings, walks away from 'our great partnership', "Shaq, A-Rod, Rollins invest in esports team", "ELEAGUE have brought back Shaq's memorable acting skills", "Shaquille O'Neal buys Krispy Kreme store", "Shaq's Fun House: A Super-Size Super Bowl Party With Long-Term Ambitions", "Meet the L.A. company behind Shaq's Fun House Super Bowl party", "Shaquille O'Neal on Crypto Craze and Bringing Shaq's Fun House to L.A. on Super Bowl Weekend", "Shaq is joining Papa John's board of directors", "Tom Brady is sued in connection with FTX collapse", "Tom Brady pushed crypto to his fans. Football has surprisingly few great nicknames, particularly for QBs. I'll have a hell of a season if I win the championship and average 20 points a game. After four years with the Magic, O'Neal signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers. O'Neal is also an electronic music producer, and touring DJ, known as DIESEL. For the most part, they followed a similar construction: add "big" to a topical noun, and you've got a new title. O'Neal will be visiting Korea for a promotion and will be visiting the school on the last day. [29] O'Neal wore number 32 because Terry Catledge refused to relinquish the 33 jersey. Shaq always had unique interests and was a rapper with lyrics that always answered his real-life stories. Someday I might have to put down a basketball and have a regular 9-to-5 like everybody else. Id rank the nickname higher but its really boring. Show-Be 11. 8. The Lakers had hoped O'Neal would take less money due to his age, physical conditioning, and games missed due to injuries. He had previous careers as a basketball player and rapper. Riley soon after decided to trade O'Neal. degree in general studies from LSU,[187] with a minor in political science. [232], On July 14, 2011, O'Neal announced that he would join Turner Network Television (TNT) as an analyst on its NBA basketball games, joining Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley.[233]. This is a nickname paying homage to former NBA center Wilt Chamberlain and is considered to be Shaq's favorite nickname so far. Michael Jordans First Championship: An Epic Run! The different language nicknames. While playing for Brown at LSU, O'Neal was a two-time All-American, two-time SEC Player of the Year, and received the Adolph Rupp Trophy as NCAA men's basketball player of the year in 1991; he was also named college player of the year by AP and UPI. 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]. Copyright 2023 Sports Nostalgia HQ | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme, By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. One must wonder about what they did together and how they enjoyed each other's company. Just ask the ladies. Shaquille O'Neal is one of the best to ever do it. Shaq is really his nickname in an official sense, but The Big Aristotle is his best nickname. Three letters is a boring nickname. [86] According to O'Neal, Riley thought he was faking the injury. The Phoenix Suns acquired O'Neal in February 2008 from the league-worst Miami Heat, who had a record at the time of the trade of 937, in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. Shaq considers it his favorite nickname and even had it printed on his baseball cap. [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. They formed one of the league's top duos and helped Orlando to a 5725 record and the Atlantic Division crown. Other companies and products for which he has appeared in commercials include Reebok, Nestl Crunch, Gold Bond, Buick, The General, Papa John's, Hulu, Epson, and IcyHot, among others. I'm about to retire. The three-minute song was released in response to Ball claiming him and his younger son LaMelo, would beat O'Neal and his son Shareef in a game of basketball. Big Aristotle In the summer of 2005, when asked about Bryant, he responded, "I'm sorry, who?" shaq nicknames for other players. [24] O'Neal's tendency to make hook shots earned comparisons to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, inspiring him to wear the same jersey number as Abdul-Jabbar, No. Those are just a few of the Shaquille O' Neal nicknames he has either gave himself or has acquired to date; the man has a never-ending supply of nicknames for himself. The Bulls swept the Heat, the first time in 50years a defending NBA champion was swept in the opening round. A nickname is a word used to describe someone or something. [290][291][292][293] Darling claimed that O'Neal had originally tried to protect himself by hacking his mistresses' voicemails and deleting relevant messages. However, his high school team did not have a 33 jersey, so O'Neal chose to wear No. Wilt Chamberneezy Shaquille ONeal NBA Salary All NBA Players #0 Shaquille O'Neal . Just keep advancing slides. "[49], The following season, O'Neal averaged 28.3 points and 11.4 rebounds. Most of Shaquille's self-applied names are famous in NBA history. Buy: $99.00. He averaged an insane 44 points per game for his college career and he played at the same school as Shaq LSU. Afterwards, O'Neal and others criticized Heat head coach Stan Van Gundy for not calling enough plays for O'Neal. Nothing serious whatsoever. I had trouble with it when I was little. Im in the protection business. Thus the name: Witness Protection. 32 before college. 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 . [10] O'Neal again missed games due to injuries, and the Heat had a 15game losing streak. access_time23 junio, 2022. person. The follow up, 1994's Shaq Fu: The Return, went gold. This one doesnt even come with any fun history. Shaquille O'Neal, popularly known by his nickname 'Shaq' is a retired American professional basketball player. 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. Next, it went from Shaq to Superman, due to Shaq's obsessiveness with The Man of Steel himself. Shaquille O'Neal Basketball, Winning, Persons 33 Copy quote I am Superman. [265] During the match, O'Neal paid tribute to Brodie Lee with his signature gesture and powerbomb and was driven through two tables by Cody, who hit O'Neal with a flying crossbody tackle as O'Neal was standing on the ring apron, knocking O'Neal through the tables that were set up at ringside. Shaq Daddy According to NBA TV's Dennis Scott, Shaq rides around in an RV in Orlando called "Wilt Chamberneezy.". O'Neal averaged 15.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game. [337], "Shaquille" and "Shaq" redirect here. King Kobe 12. Shaq Fu Shaquille, Shaquill, or Shaquil is a given name, with Shaq being a common nickname. [279] He has also appeared in television commercials promoting the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive league ELeague. However, on November 10, 2009, Shaunie filed an intent to divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. What Was Michael Jordans Playoff Record? Shaquille ONeal gave himself the nickname The Big Aristotle when he won the 2000 NBA MVP award his only league MVP. You're in luck. [216] O'Neal also appeared in Quest for the Code in 2002 as a voice actor,[217] Backyard Basketball in 2004, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2 as a playable boxer, and as an unlockable character in Delta Force: Black Hawk Down. Kenny was trying to figure . Nice try, though. They contended that O'Neal was worth more than $20million per year, particularly given that lesser players earned almost the same amount. [227] O'Neal was a wrestling fan and made appearances at many WWE and AEW events. He fulfilled that promise in 2000, earning his B.A. [83] Critics doubted that O'Neal, now in his mid-30s, could carry the team into the playoffs. Yes, this nickname as well"Shaq Diesel"has its roots in 1990s hip-hop "slanguage." The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. Notable people with the name include: Shaquille Adams (born 1992), Kittian footballer Shaquil Barrett (born 1992), American football player Shaquil Delos (born 1999), French footballer [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. They freestyle when called upon. But it doesnt have much else going for it. Discovery Sports to continue as a host on Inside the NBA.[238]. The nickname, like Shaq playing basketball, is simply outstanding. After he made a steal and got a breakaway dunk to force overtime in a game his Lakers would go on to win, Shaq said he was a great thief, The Big Felon. Shaq gave himself this one after he said he terrorized Keith Van Horn on the boards during his 2002 NBA Finals win. But, ultimately, I like the Big Cactus better. Shaquille O'Neal's Education- He graduated from Robert C. Cole High School in San Antonio, Texas. In fact, there are many different reasons why people use . wolf trace homes for sale; [57], Matched up against the Sacramento Kings in the 2002 Western Conference finals, O'Neal said, "There is only one way to beat us. O'Neal is generally liked by the media for his humorous tone in interviews. O'Neal told a reporter, "you tell Yao Ming, ching chong yang, wah, ah so. 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". "I love playing for this coach and I love playing with these guys", O'Neal said. [239] O'Neal challenged kickboxer and mixed martial artist Choi Hong-man to a mixed martial arts rules bout in a YouTube video posted on June 17, 2009. Look at the rock on her finger. They include some great names like The Big Aristotle and some less-great names like Witness Protection. Shaq blames himself for the failed marriage and says he made mistakes and was "greedy. which means Last Center Left. 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. This does not influence our choices. Shaquille O'Neal is among a host of NBA free agents who could vanish from their teams", "Magic are proof that wounds from star's departure do heal", "NBA Lakers Sign O'Neal Raise Ticket Prices", "Shaq signs multi-million contract with LA Lakers", "Sports of The Times;Shaq Is Now California Dreamin', "Sports Products Deal For Shaquille O'Neal", "1996-97 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats", "O'Neal wanted to pack more offensive punch", "Jackson shares thoughts on final season", "Los Angeles Lakers at Los Angeles Clippers Box Score, March 6, 2000", "NBA Players with 60% 2b Points in a Game With%3d0 3pm", "Phil Jackson's tenure produced the most success and fun we've ever seen", "Sports of The Times; N.B.A. Others use them to show off their uniqueness. [52] On March 6, 2000, O'Neal's 28th birthday, he scored a career-high 61 points to go along with 23 rebounds and 3 assists in a 123103 win over the LA Clippers. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. [200], Upon his trade to Miami, O'Neal began training to become a Miami Beach reserve officer. He led the Lakers to the NBA's Big Dance three boogiesin a row. Choi replied to an email asking him if he would like to fight O'Neal saying "Yes, if there is a chance." Be the first one to comment on this story. Supporters applauded O'Neal's willingness to take what amounted to a pay cut and the Heat's decision to secure O'Neal's services for the long term. It's probably the only one ever displayed in a game by an NBA center. Italian Stallion 14. On December 17, 1996, O'Neal shoved Dennis Rodman of the Chicago Bulls; Rodman's teammates Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan restrained Rodman and prevented further conflict. In this case the variable, like Aristotle, is near-perfect. O'Neal made comments indicating that he felt the team's decisions were centered on a desire to appease Bryant to the exclusion of all other concerns, and O'Neal promptly demanded a trade. [325][326][327], On January 31, 2012, O'Neal was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans. . However, it was the first season in O'Neal's career that his scoring average dropped below 20points per game. The Lakers made the playoffs, but were eliminated in the second round by the Utah Jazz in five games. 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. 1993 Ultra Famous Nicknames Michael Jordan & Shaquille O'Neal PSA 8 NM-MT LOT . He had first met Tigers coach Dale Brown years earlier in Europe when O'Neal's stepfather was stationed on a U.S. Army base at Wildflecken, West Germany. [25], After graduating from high school, O'Neal studied business at Louisiana State University (LSU). His plans involved buying the mortgages of those who had fallen into foreclosure and then selling the homes back to them under more affordable terms. After being named NBA MVP in 2000, ONeal decided to celebrate by unveiling his latest nickname. 15-60869-CIV-COHN/SELTZER | Casetext Search + Citator", "Shaquille O'Neal Talks Kobe Bryant, Pat Riley & NBA Politics: 'I Did It My Way', "Who is Shaquille O'neal's Ex-Wife & Dating in 2022? "ShaqDonald's" Creator: 9th Wonder (Grammy Award-winning hip-hop producer) Dime. He insisted on more cortisone shots and returned in the second round, but he was limited to 12minutes in two games as the Heat eliminated the Celtics from the playoffs. It starts with c and ends with t." O'Neal meant "cheat" in reference to the alleged flopping of Kings' center Vlade Divac. When Shaq won the 2000 NBA MVP award, it reminded him of the great quote of Aristotle that excellence is a habit and not a singular act. We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. Shaq gave it to himself after his Lakers threepeat. You are what you repeatedly do.. I had Phil. O'Neal's imposing physical presence inside the paint caused dramatic changes in many teams' offensive and defensive strategies. 1. Shaquille ONeal, who lost to Olajuwon in the NBA Finals as a young player. From breaking backboards to samurai swords,the NBA will miss Shaquille O'Neal. It has nothing to do with the fact that I am a huge Celtics fan stop saying that. O'Neal also started DJing in the 1980s at LSU. [309], On September 4, 2007, O'Neal filed for divorce from Shaunie in a Miami-Dade Circuit court. Roll the tape to find out One of the most dominant and athletic centers in basketball history, he was like Darryl "Chocolate Thunder"Dawkins and Wilt Chamberlain mixed into one: Chocolate Chamberneezy. It is derived from the Arabic name Shakil. They often invite local celebrities to lead the orchestra for a song as a form of promotion. [156] Although he was a favorite interviewee of the press, O'Neal was sensitive and often went weeks without speaking. 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. Grade: PSA 8. #25. . [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." O'Neal was a capable defender, named three times to the All-NBA Second Defensive Team. With the tandem of O'Neal and teenage superstar Kobe Bryant, expectations for the Lakers increased; however, personnel changes were a source of instability during the 199899 season. Journalists and others gave O'Neal several nicknames, including "Shaq", "The Diesel", "Shaq Fu", "The Big Daddy", "Superman", "The Big Agave", "The Big Cactus", "The Big Shaqtus", "The Big Galactus", "Wilt Chamberneezy", "The Big Baryshnikov", "The Real Deal", "The Big Shamrock", "The Big Leprechaun", "Shaqovic",[154][155] and "The Big Conductor". The racial quote from his song was "it's like a white boy trying to be more nigga than me."[176]. But he doesnt seem like someone hanging out with an academic crowd, either. [144], O'Neal's primary weakness was his free throw shooting, with a career average of 52.7%. I care about winning, not stats. You can see why Shaq thought this was a good name for him. [202], In September 2006, O'Neal took part in a raid on a home in rural Bedford County, Virginia.