Athletes are often known for their large stature, and professional basketball player Shaquille O'Neal is no exception. Standing seven feet tall, weighing over 315 pounds and sporting a size 23 shoe, Shaq -- one of his many nicknames -- is one of the largest and most successful players in the NBA. Shaquille O'Neal was born March 6, 1972, in Newark, New Jersey. Throughout his 19-year career, this talented center player has racked up a wealth of titles, set records and helped lead his teams to victory.
Early Career
Shaq got his start playing college ball at LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His consistently high performance earned him the title of 1991 College Player of the Year. As a rookie, Shaq showed great promise. He gained top marks in shooting, scoring, blocks and rebounds, and earned the coveted title of Rookie of the Year. After receiving a formal offer from the Orlando Magic, Shaq quit college in 1992 to pursue a full-time basketball career in the NBA.
Later Career
In 1996, Shaq left Orlando for the LA Lakers, with whom he signed a massive seven-year, $120 million contract, the biggest in the history of the NBA at the time. According to the NBA, in the eight years Shaq played with the Lakers he averaged 27 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. He also helped the team achieve three consecutive world championships. In the year 2000, Shaq was crowned the NBA's Most Valuable Player. Shaq signed with the Boston Celtics in 2010. In 2011, at the age of 39, Shaq officially announced his retirement. He walked away from the NBA with an overall average of 28,596 points, 13,099 rebounds and four championships.
Career Challenges
Like all professional sports players, even Shaq has a weakness. He is known as being among the weakest free-throw shooters in the NBA. Shaq also experienced his fair share of controversy. Following Shaq's longstanding feud with teammate Kobe Bryant and several disputes with team management, the Lakers ultimately traded him to the Miami Heat in 2004.
Other Projects
In the year 2000, Shaq fulfilled a promise he made to himself and his parents when he received his B.A. degree in business from LSU. Shaq went on to earn an MBA from the University of Phoenix in 2005. In addition to being a superior athlete and dedicated scholar, Shaq has also left a large imprint on the entertainment industry as an actor and a rapper. His debut album "Shaq Diesel" was released in 1993. The album quickly went platinum, selling over a million copies. Shaq later released several more solo albums including "Shaq-Fu: Da Return" in 1994, "You Can't Stop the Reign" in 1996 and "Respect" in 1998. Shaq showcased his acting abilities in major films like "Blue Chips" in 1994, "Kazaam" in 1996 and "Steel" in 1997.
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