Shaquille O'Neal biography

Synopsis

Profile

Athlete, actor, musician. Born Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal on March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey. O'Neal attended Cole High School in San Antonio, Texas and Louisiana State University.

Standing 7 feet and 315 pounds, this larger-than-life center is arguably the most dominant player in the NBA. During his years at Louisiana State, O'Neal was named the 1991 College Player of the Year and a unanimous first team All-American in both 1991 and 1992. He dropped out of college in 1992 after his junior year to pursue a career in the NBA.

In his rookie season with the Orlando Magic, he finished in the top ten in scoring, rebounding, blocks and shooting percentage. A notoriously bad free-throw shooter, Shaq tries to get more of his points on the power slam. Hearty NBA centers know to try to foul Shaq rather than give him the easy shot. He became the first player in NBA history to be named Player of the Week in his first week in the league. In 1996, he signed the biggest contract in NBA history, seven years for $120 million with the LA Lakers. That same year, he helped the U.S. Dream Team win gold at the Olympic Games in Atlanta.

O'Neal has been named three times to the All-NBA Third Team (1994, 1996 and 1997) with two selections to the NBA Second Team (1995 and 1999). He was selected to his first All-NBA First Team in 1998, and again in 2000 (one of the most dominating seasons in recent years), 2001 and 2002. In 2000, he was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player.

Prior to the 2000-2001 season, the LA Lakers signed O'Neal to a three year, $88.5 million contract extension and Shaq helped deliver three consecutive world championships to the team (2000, 2001, 2002). In 2004 however, following growing dismay with team management and friction with teammate Kobe Bryant, O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat, helping the team capture the NBA championship in 2006. He is currently playing for the Boston Celtics.

Off the court, Shaq has reinvented himself as both a musician and actor. In 1990, he appeared on Fu-Schnickens' Top 40 single What's Up Doc?. In 1993, he released his solo debut, Shaq Diesel. With help from artists like Def Jef, the album achieved platinum status. Thanks to a slew of guest-stars, Shaq-Fu Da Return, released in 1994, established Shaq as a gold-certified rap artist. His third album, 1996's You Can't Stop the Reign, was released under his own imprint, TWIsM (The World Is Mine) Records. Respect appeared in 1998 and Presents His Superfriends in 2001.

Shaq also appeared in several films including Blue Chips with Nick Nolte and the star vehicles Kazaam! and Steel, for which he also recorded the soundtrack