Shaq retiring after 19 years in the NBA

[Kabob]

CNN
FOX News

NBA star Shaquille O'Neal appears ready to hang up his size 23 basketball shoes after one of the most dominant careers at his position in league history.

"I'm retiring" and "Shaq ooout" was posted Wednesday to his Twitter account, which also links to a video in which he talked of his intentions.

“We did it. Nineteen years, baby. (I) want to thank you very much. That’s why I’m telling you first, I’m about to retire. Love you. Talk to you soon,” Shaq said in the video on Tout.com, linked from his Twitter account.

In a different Tout.com clip, O'Neal said, "I know you heard I just announced I'm retired, so I need your help. Help me come up with a new nickname."

His team, the Boston Celtics, has not announced his retirement.

O'Neal, a 7-foot-1-inch center, won four NBA titles in a 19-year career. He is fifth on the NBA’s all-time career scoring list with 28,596 points - short of only Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain - and 12th on the league’s all time rebounding list, with 13,099.

Drafted after his junior year at Louisiana State University in 1992, O’Neal would earn NBA rookie of the year honors with the Orlando Magic, with whom he played four seasons before signing with the Los Angeles Lakers.

He started collecting his championship rings in Los Angeles, teaming with Kobe Bryant to win three straight NBA titles from 2000 to 2002 and earning NBA Finals MVP awards in all three years.

Amid a feud with Bryant, O’Neal went to the Miami Heat, with whom he would pick up his last NBA championship in 2006.

He went on to play for Phoenix and Cleveland before signing with the Boston Celtics in August. Limited by injury, his points-per-game average was under 10 (9.2) for the first time in his career, and he missed the first round in this year’s playoffs before scoring two points in two games in the Celtics’ second-round loss to Miami.

Miami star LeBron James, whose team beat Dallas Tuesday night in the first game of this year's finals, tweeted his respects to O'Neal on Wednesday.

"What a career for Shaq Diesel!!," a post to James' Twitter account said. "The most dominating force to ever play the game. Great person to be around as well. Comedy all the time!!"

 

[coldmeat]

I thought he quit years ago.

 

[ProfJohn]

I wonder how his legacy will be affected by all his moving around.

Most NBA players are associated with one team for their career, but Shaq doesn't have that association.

Classy guy too. Let's just hope that he doesn't start acting in more movies now.

 

[Jaepheth]

Is he retiring retiring? Or do we still need to beware of his "acting" career?

 

[OCGuy]

Thanks for the three championships Shaq!

 

[Fingolfin269]

Kazaam 2?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D70cPxYHb0

 

[BeauJangles]

I'm definitely going to miss one of the most quotable, entertaining, and nicest guys in sports.

 

[al981]

should've had many more championships... enter nick anderson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKir54uGiWA#t=2m52s

 

[Awkward]

I like how they somehow found a way to include Lebron James in this article.

 

[preslove]

should've had many more championships... enter nick anderson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKir54uGiWA#t=2m52s

I remember that. One of the worst chokes in NBA history

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Most NBA players are associated with one team for their career, but Shaq doesn't have that association.

How would it not be the Lakers?

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

never understood how a player with such little bball skills could win multiple championships.
oh yeah, that's right. they changed the rules so he could dominate.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I hope he goes the Barkley route and becomes a color commentator. He's hilarious. And if he and Barkley were on the same broadcast? Forget about it.

 

[edro]

I wonder how his legacy will be affected by all his moving around.
Most NBA players are associated with one team for their career, but Shaq doesn't have that association.

That was the old days, in all sports. That will be very very rare for the foreseeable future.

It will not affect his legacy at all, IMO.
4 championships, 3 Finals MVPs and a few extra Finals appearances, 5th overall scoring leader...

 

[Fingolfin269]

How would it not be the Lakers?

I always think of the Magic first.

 

[FallenHero]

I always think of the Magic first.

same here.

 

[zinfamous]

same here.

same here +1

 

[SamQuint]

52% free throw shooter missed 5300+ free throws in his career

only about 3,000 points behind Jordan in career points that would have put him 3rd on the all time scoring list.

I think he could have been the greatest center of all time (too many injuries, fragile toes) but I would still pick Kareem over Shaq. edit yes I would pick Wilt over Shaq as well

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

About time... He's about three years too late.

 

[Vette73]

I wonder how his legacy will be affected by all his moving around.

Most NBA players are associated with one team for their career, but Shaq doesn't have that association.

Classy guy too. Let's just hope that he doesn't start acting in more movies now.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Milwaukee Bucks
Los Angeles Lakers

Michael Jordan
Chicago Bulls
Washington Wizards

Wilt Chamberlain
Harlem Globetrotters
Philadelphia / San Francisco Warriors
Philadelphia 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers



Yep played on more than 1 team = LOSER /ProJohn

 

[ch33zw1z]

wow, 19 years already. I remember watching him play at the local civic center for the Tip-Off Classic, while he was on LSU. Ahhh, nostalgia.

 

[Oil]

:thumbsup: Proud to call Shaq a tiger

 

[Miramonti]

Good guy, altho massive under achiever compared to what he could have done. He was one of the greatest instant mismatches in the history of the league, yet never developed a shot further than his height away from the basket, including free throws.

He still accomplished a lot, props.

 

[Perknose]

Wilt > Shaq. Not even close.

Sadly, because Wilt mostly played on teams with inferior talent to Bill Russell's Celtics, Wilt will never get the approbation he's due.

 

[blurredvision]

I can see why people would think his late-career team hopping would taint his legacy, but it won't. Nobody will even remember the Suns, Cavs or Celtics. Ten years from now, it's not about who you played for, it's what you accomplished, and he accomplished quite a bit.

I always liked Shaq and it's somewhat sad to see one of the all-time greats retire. I wish he hadn't spent the last couple years of his career chasing a title just so he could beat/tie Kobe, but it's not about that anymore.