Shaq retires

[Tiggsy]

End of an era

(about time though, was a waste on the Celtic's bench)

[Stu R]

Shame to see him go, but it was overdue. I think even as a bench warmer he's been useful for the Celtics, but he's certainly past his best and earned his retirement.

[Justices]

Great man. Look for videos of "young Shaq" to see him playing in college. Lean, fast and incredibly athletic running end to end the whole game with ease. Truly scary. They made him bulk up for the NBA so he wouldn't get pushed around. It worked.

[Highway Star]

I remember when Shaq came out of college and was drafted by the Magic. It was about the same time that NBA Jam Session was shown on ITV on Saturday afternoons. Me and my friends used to watch and then try and emulate the Shaq Attaq down the local school gym (though running up the wall to get a dunk). Even had a Shaq replica jersey.

[Black can man]

One of my favourite episodes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA582tX6UOE

[Tiggsy]

Nice timing as well...doesnt even wait for the playoffs to be over, and does it at a time when Kobe is in no mood to gloat about his extra ring, what with having been dumped out way before he got near another!

[amare32]

He will be missed but it was the right time to retire.

Kobe can gloat all he wants but he would be missing 3 rings if it wasn't for Shaq. In the same way that without Pippen, Jordan wouldn't have won all their championships.

Mike, Scottie, Pippen, Barkley and Penny Hardaway were the guys that got me into basketball in the first place. The league is in a poorer place without these hall of famers.

[Tiggsy]

amare32 said:

He will be missed but it was the right time to retire.

Kobe can gloat all he wants but he would be missing 3 rings if it wasn't for Shaq. In the same way that without Pippen, Jordan wouldn't have won all their championships.

Mike, Scottie, Pippen, Barkley and Penny Hardaway were the guys that got me into basketball in the first place. The league is in a poorer place without these hall of famers.

Talking of which - Pippen said this week that LeBron is a better "player" that MJ - not sure if he'll be allowed back into Chicago!

[Ved]

When he's not being a knob he was actually very funny. Looking forward to seeing his jersey hanging.

Shaq had just made 12 of 14 free throws in Game 2 of the 2002 NBA Finals, leading to a 23-point rout against the Nets. He then responds to previous complaints by Nets coach Rick Adelman about O’Neal stepping over the line while shooting free throws.
“That game was dedicated to Rick Adelman. I’m at home, in the bathroom, trying to take a dump, flipping through the channels and he’s complaining (on TV) about how I’m stepping over the line. I can’t even do a No. 2 in peace. I’m sitting there grunting at 12:30 at night. Can I go one day without somebody saying something negative about me?”

[Tiggsy]

His number of MISSED free throws is higher than 99% of players TAKEN free throws! If he had hit half the ones he missed he be way higher on the most points table (and he's 5th as it is!!!)

And who's going to hang his jersey? Lakers...after going Green???

[Ved]

100% he should and will have it retired in LA. We would not have done anything without him. Just a shame it all imploded and he behaved like a child for the final 6 years.

[Halb]

Free now to face CHM?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaquille_O%27Neal#Mi...

[LandR]

Incredible player.

The only players in the history of the game I could put ahead of Shaq...

1. Michael Jordan

Then in no particular order:
Bill Russel
Kareem Abdul Jabar
Larry Bird
Magic Johnson
Wilt Chamberlain
Hakeem Olajuwan
Oscar Robertson
Tim Duncan
Jerry West
Kobe Bryant

I just wish he had stayed in Orlando, I loved watching him play with Penny.