Shaquille O'Neal

Shaquille O'Neal is a player for the National Basketball Association's Phoenix Suns, widely regarded as one of the best centers to ever play the game of basketball.

In his career, O'Neal established himself as a formidable low post presence, putting up lifetime averages of 25.9 points on .580 field goal accuracy, 11.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game (as of May 2007).

O'Neal's 7 ft 1 in/330-lb (2.16 m / 150 kg) frame gives him a power advantage over most opponents, and for a man of that size, he is quick and explosive. His "drop step", (called the "Black Tornado" by Shaq) in which he posts up a defender, turns around and, using his elbows for leverage, powers past him for a high-percentage slam dunk, has proven an effective offensive weapon. The ability to dunk frequently contributes to his lifetime field goal accuracy of .580; he is the third most accurate scorer of all time

1 NBA highlights
2 Accomplishments/milestones
3 Other
4 Statistics
5 References
6 Related Articles
- 6.1 Recent Shaquille O'Neal ArmchairGM Stories

[edit] NBA highlights

Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996 (youngest player on the list and only active player remaining from the list; Shaq was only in his fourth season when he received this honor).
NBA Most Valuable Player: 2000
2-time The Sporting News NBA Most Valuable Player: 2000, 2005
4-time NBA Champion: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006
3-time NBA Finals MVP: 2000, 2001, 2002
14-time NBA All-Star: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
2-time NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2000, 2004
13-time All-NBA:

First Team: 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Second Team: 1995, 1999
Third Team: 1994, 1996, 1997

3-time All-Defensive:

Second Team: 2000, 2001, 2003

NBA Rookie of the Year: 1993
The Sporting News NBA Rookie of the Year: 1993
NBA All-Rookie First Team: 1993
2-time NBA regular-season leader, points per game: 1995 (29.3), 2000 (29.7)
3-time NBA regular-season leader, total points: 1995 (2315), 1999 (1289), 2000 (2344)
5-time NBA regular-season leader, field goals made: 1994 (953), 1995 (930), 1999 (510), 2000 (956), 2001 (813)
9-time NBA regular-season leader, field goal %: 1994 (.599), 1998 (.584), 1999 (.576), 2000 (.574), 2001 (.572), 2002 (.579), 2004 (.584), 2005 (.601), 2006 (.600)

[edit] Accomplishments/milestones

Joins Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to lead the league in field goal percentage for
- nine seasons
- five consecutive seasons (1998–2002)
Only player in NBA history to:

average at least 20 points per game and 10 rebounds per game in a season for 13 consecutive seasons, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Hakeem Olajuwon, all with 12 consecutive seasons.
reach 4,900 points, 2,300 rebounds, 500 assists, 400 blocks, and 100 steals in his playoff career while shooting at least 55% from the field.

One of three players in NBA history to be selected to the NBA All-Star Game for 14 consecutive seasons; the others are Jerry West and Karl Malone.
One of three players in NBA history to reach 24,500 points, 11,000 rebounds, 2,600 assists, and 2,400 blocks in his career (the others are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon; note that the NBA did not record blocked shots as an official statistic until the 1973-1974 season).
One of seven players in NBA history to reach 25,000 points and 10,000 rebounds in his career (the others are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Moses Malone, Elvin Hayes,Karl Malone and Wilt Chamberlain).
One of four players in NBA history to be awarded the NBA Finals MVP three times (the others are Magic Johnson (3), Tim Duncan (3), and Michael Jordan (6) [1])
- Joins Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to win three consecutive NBA Finals MVP awards (2000, 2001, 2002)
Surpassed the career 25,000-point mark against the New York Knicks on February 26, 2007.
NBA playoff records (12):

Most free throws attempted, all-time: 2,177 (1994–present)
Most free throws missed, all-time: 1,014 (1994–present)
Most free throws attempted, half: 27 (May 20, 2000 vs. Portland Trail Blazers)
Most free throws attempted, quarter: 25 (May 20, 2000 vs. Portland Trail Blazers)
Most offensive rebounds, all-time: 816 (1994–present)
NBA Finals (11):
Most points scored in a four-game series: 145 (NBA Finals 2002)
Most free throws made in a four-game series: 45 (NBA Finals 2002)
Most free throws attempted in a four-game series: 68 (NBA Finals 2002)
Most blocks made in a four-game series: 11 (NBA Finals 2002)
Most blocks made in one game: 8 (NBA Finals 2001, tied Bill Walton, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing and Tim Duncan).
Most free throws made in one game, half: 13 (NBA Finals 2000)
Most free throws made in one game, quarter: 9 (NBA Finals 2000; tied with Allen Iverson)
Most free throws attempted in one game: 39 (NBA Finals 2000)
Most free throws attempted in one game, quarter: 16 (NBA Finals 2000, NBA Finals 2002)
Highest field goal percentage, all-time: .602%
Highest scoring average for a center: 29.0 points per game
Most blocks in a five-game series: 17 (2001 vs Philadelphia 76ers)

Orlando Magic franchise records (2):

Most rebounds, game: 28 (November 20, 1993 vs. New Jersey Nets).
Most blocks, game: 15 (November 20, 1993 vs. New Jersey Nets).

Los Angeles Lakers franchise records (8):

Most offensive rebounds, season: 336 (1999-2000).
Most offensive rebounds, all-time, playoffs: 561 (1996–2004).
Most offensive rebounds, game, playoffs: 11 (May 6, 2001 vs. Sacramento Kings).
Most free throws attempted, game: 31 (November 19, 1999 vs. Chicago Bulls).
Most free throws attempted, game, playoffs: 39 (June 9, 2000 vs. Indiana Pacers).
Most free throws attempted, half: 20 (March 14, 2002 vs. Golden State Warriors).
Most free throws attempted, half, playoffs: 22 (June 9, 2000 vs. Indiana Pacers).
Most free throws attempted, quarter, playoffs: 16 (June 9, 2000 vs. Indiana Pacers).

Miami Heat franchise records (1):

Most free throws attempted, quarter, playoffs: 10 (May 2, 2006 vs. Chicago Bulls; tied with Lamar Odom) [2]

[edit] Other

Key member of the 1994 USA World Championship and 1996 Olympic basketball team, both of which won gold.
Ranked #9 in SLAM Magazine's Top 75 NBA Players of all time in 2003.
O'Neal and teammate Gary Payton became only the 11th and 12th players to reach the NBA Finals with three different teams.
Set an NBA record by missing all 11 of his free throw attempts in a game against Seattle on December 8, 2000.
Says he can't shoot free throws because he fell out of a tree as a child and broke both his wrists.
Won the Male Athlete of the Year Award at the BET Awards '05.
In the 1995/96 NBA Season, his last with the Orlando Magic, O'Neal went 50% from behind the 3 point arc hitting the only 3 pointer of his 14 season career.
As of the end of the 05-06 season, O'Neal has recorded 48 games of scoring 40 or more points in the regular season.
As of the end of the 05-06 season, O'Neal has recorded 3 games of scoring 50 or more points (all in the regular season).