After defeating the Portland Trail Blazers and Seattle SuperSonics in the first two rounds, the Lakers again fell to the Jazz, this time in a 40 sweep.[50]. Makes perfect sense. Shaq blames himself for the failed marriage and says he made mistakes and was "greedy. In his prime, Shaq wasthe rib of the leaguethe lean and meanface of the NBA. They freestyle when called upon. At 7ft 1in (2.16m), 330lb (150kg)[141] and U.S. shoe size 23,[63] he became famous for his physical stature. [296] Binion would however go on to sue O'Neal for a sum larger than $25,000. I know for a fact if I was healthy, we would have gotten it done that year and won a ring. Which is your favorite of the possible Cleveland Shaq nicknames? 3rd seems about right. The Big Baryshnikov -- Nimble and light on his feet, the center took on this nickname in reference to one of the greatest ballet dancers of all time, Mikhail Baryshinikov. May 1, 2006). [335] He participated in a virtual rally for then-presidential candidate Joe Biden and voted for the first time during the 2020 presidential election. He joined the Phoenix Suns team in 2007-2009 and got a co-MVP award along with his ex-colleague Kobe Bryant from Los Angeles Lakers team. This natural big person and Kobe Bryant had an athletic dislike, but later, in 2013, they started a big and little brother respect and affection towards each other. As the holder of multiple advanced degrees, I know how much work it can be. Osama Bin Shaq, my favorite of the nicknames, is a name which he gave himself after terrorizing Keith Van Horn under the boards in the 2002 NBA Finals. The Dagger 25. That's why I'm telling you first. [250] A match was proposed for WrestleMania 33, which O'Neal accepted. In my nicknames for Shaq ideas, I use combinations that are appealing to the eyes, interesting to others, convey my personality, and are easy to spell and pronounce. The Inside the NBA crew enjoy joking about each other and players in the NBA, which has been a catalyst for many moments of entertaining television over the years. With O'Neal on board, the new-look Heat surpassed expectations, claiming the best record in the Eastern Conference in 200405 with 59 wins. Shaquille O'Neal is seen by many as the most physically dominant and imposing player the NBA has ever produced. Here are the top 10 new nicknames given to him from musical legends Chuck D and 9th Wonder to college students: 10. Show-Be 11. But, as I mentioned above, I am partial to the Big Shamrock. "[240] On August 28, 2010, in an interview at UFC 118 in Boston, O'Neal reiterated his desire to fight Choi. They might use them to refer to each other, or even just to their friends. His physical frame gave him a power advantage over most opponents. The Lakers won, 130124. Off it, he's the king of nicknames. [27] A 900-pound (410kg) bronze statue of O'Neal is located in front of the LSU Basketball Practice Facility. [145] O'Neal believes his free throw woes were a mental issue, as he often shot 80percent in practice. Rated as the 24th-best player in Georgia, O'Neal played for Union Grove High School and was dunking in games at 15 years old. Italian Stallion 14. [144], O'Neal's primary weakness was his free throw shooting, with a career average of 52.7%. [38][39] He said the team "just didn't respect [Hill]". Shaquille O' Neal, also known by his nickname Shaq, is a former American basketball player, as well as a former rapper. [246] In September 2012, O'Neal made a guest appearance on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Impact Wrestling program, where he had a backstage segment with Hulk Hogan. Shaquille O'Neal does believe that his fellow NBA Hall of Famer is, in fact, 300 pounds of greatness, but Barkley disagrees with the opinion. One linguist says that sports nicknames are thriving thanks to heavy sports media coverage. "The Dragon" Goran Dragic Three letters as your nickname. In 1993, Shaq put out a rap album that sold over a million copies. O'Neal was also an unlockable character in UFC Undisputed 2010. O'Neal began training in mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2000. At first I was going to rank this nickname lower. The man could spit fire in addition to throwing it down. [118] Privately, he wanted to start, but kept it to himself. Much like when Shaq and Chuck joked about one another, Brandon Ingram took the joke in stride and laughed off the comment. And it has a funny story behind it. At his introductory press conference, Shaq said My motto is very simple: Win a ring for the King and My job is to protect the King. "ShaqDonald's" Creator: 9th Wonder (Grammy Award-winning hip-hop producer) Dime. Shaquille ONeal, who lost to Olajuwon in the NBA Finals as a young player. 3 center ever. O'Neal is also the global spokesperson for the company. [53] O'Neal's 61-point game is the most recent game in NBA history that a player scored 60 or more points without hitting a 3-pointer. The Big Witness Protection -- Shaq's motto in Cleveland: Protect LeBron James at all costs. As I have mentioned, I am suspicious of the Big X as a formula for Shaqs nicknames. The Twitterer. [63], Opposing teams often used up many fouls on O'Neal, reducing the playing time of their own big men. "[75] Many critics stated that Heat coach Riley correctly managed O'Neal during the rest of the season, limiting his minutes to a career low. He was angered by being overlooked for the 1999 FIBA AmeriCup squad, saying it was a "lack of respect". On November 20, 1993, against the New Jersey Nets, O'Neal registered the first triple-double of his career, recording 24 points to go along with career highs of 28 rebounds and 15 blocks. "It's not really my role anymore." Upon signing with the Heat, O'Neal promised the fans that he would bring a championship to Miami. We have seen in a lot of places that short and simple nicknames are liked by people a lot. @SHAQ's first appearance on AEW was comedy Rolling on the floor laughing *NSFW*", "Brandi Rhodes throws water, swears at Shaq on AEW Dynamite", "Shaq will wrestle in mixed tag match on 'AEW Dynamite', "Watch: Shaq goes through tables, wins in mixed tag-team match on AEW", "Shaquille O'Neal on AEW: Shaq goes through a table and picks up a win in his All Elite Wrestling debut", "Shaquille O'Neal, the king of franchises: 155 burger joints, 40 gyms and a $400 million fortune", "Shaq Attacks IPO Access, Invests in Loyal3", "Shaq: I can help homeowners fight off foreclosure", "Star Comes Home to Build in Newark Shaquille O'Neal in Real Estate Development Partnership", "Shaq comes back to Newark to break ground for city's first high-rise apartment in more than 50 years", "Booker, Shaquille O'Neal and other dignitaries break ground on new high-rise apartments", "NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY: Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Program: Approved Projects", "Shaquille O'Neal buys a stake in the Sacramento Kings", "Shaquille O'Neal officially sells his stake in Sacramento Kings, walks away from 'our great partnership', "Shaq, A-Rod, Rollins invest in esports team", "ELEAGUE have brought back Shaq's memorable acting skills", "Shaquille O'Neal buys Krispy Kreme store", "Shaq's Fun House: A Super-Size Super Bowl Party With Long-Term Ambitions", "Meet the L.A. company behind Shaq's Fun House Super Bowl party", "Shaquille O'Neal on Crypto Craze and Bringing Shaq's Fun House to L.A. on Super Bowl Weekend", "Shaq is joining Papa John's board of directors", "Tom Brady is sued in connection with FTX collapse", "Tom Brady pushed crypto to his fans. We succeeded in casting him after a lot of effort. Shaq was not quite the last actual center to play the game. The Kidadl Team is made up of people from different walks of life, from different families and backgrounds, each with unique experiences and nuggets of wisdom to share with you. It seems somewhat crazy. In addition, O'Neal frequently used a right-handed jump hook shot to score near the basket. Subsequently, O'Neal earned an online MBA degree through the University of Phoenix in 2005. What are all the nicknames Shaq has given to NBA players? Dont waste my time. This one should probably rank even lower. O'Neal became a free agent after the 199596 NBA season. #25. . An alter ego inspired by 'Kill Bill'. [255] Big Show later stated it was scheduling issues on O'Neal's part that caused the cancellation. O'Neal was injured for a great deal of the 199596 season, missing 28 games. [334], O'Neal endorsed Republican New Jersey governor Chris Christie in his 2013 reelection bid, appearing in a television advertisement. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, the No. However, on November 10, 2009, Shaunie filed an intent to divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. [166] Yao joked, "Chinese is hard to learn. [97] He returned to the All-Star Game in 2009 and emerged as co-MVP along with ex-teammate Kobe Bryant. Shaq Daddy -- The Hall of Famer is one of the biggest personalities in the business. They then defeated the Chicago Bulls in the conference semifinals. MaybeO'Neal willend up on the league's television station. His trademark mobility and explosion had been often absent. O'Neal left LSU early to pursue his NBA career, but continued his education even after becoming a professional player. [59] O'Neal was suspended for three games without pay and fined $15,000. For other uses, see, First scoring title and NBA Finals (19941996), Career lows and disagreements (20072008), Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game, S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, List of career achievements by Shaquille O'Neal, Shaquille O'Neal Presents His Superfriends, Vol. Since Shaq was the youngest of that group of Hall of Fame legends, it makes sense that he was the Last Center Left. Please logout and login again. [19] On his 1994 rap album, Shaq Fu: The Return, O'Neal voiced his feelings of disdain for Toney in the song "Biological Didn't Bother", dismissing him with the line "Phil is my father." [124] The Celtics traded away center Kendrick Perkins in February partially due to the expectation that O'Neal would return to fill Perkins' role. I come back finally in the first round of the playoffs, and we lost to Boston in the second round. Y'all don't eat at the same places. O'Neal was featured alongside Michael Jackson as a guest rapper on "2 Bad", a song from Jackson's 1995 album HIStory. "[303], O'Neal married Shaunie Nelson on December 26, 2002. The nickname, like Shaq playing basketball, is simply outstanding. He fulfilled that promise in 2000, earning his B.A. If it played on the Big Cactus and the Big Shaqtus, at least it rhymed. [249] In July at the 2016 ESPY Awards on the red carpet, Big Show and O'Neal had another brief confrontation. degree in general studies from LSU,[187] with a minor in political science. O'Neal only made one three-point shot during his entire career. I had trouble with it when I was little. [294] In 2017, a trial court ruled that Darling had not filed the lawsuit "in good faith," and that the accusations made by Darling occurred after he had attempted to extort$12,000,000 from ONeal in return for thousands of stolen emails and electronic files. I needed to learn the secrets". O'Neal has a daughter named Taahirah O'Neal (b. July 19, 1996)[307][308] from a previous relationship with his ex-girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh. According to NBA TV's Dennis Scott, Shaq rides around in an RV in Orlando called "Wilt Chamberneezy.". He believes he is the last true NBA center in the league today. The Suns notified O'Neal he might be traded to cut costs.[103]. [84] The Heat went on a winning streak that kept them in the race for a playoff spot, which they finally secured against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 5. He even starred as a Superman-inspired hero in 1997s Steele, though the film performed poorly at the box office and with critics. [269], O'Neal is an investor for esports team NRG Esports. [11] He was elected to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017. Riley felt O'Neal was wrong for maligning his former teammates. "[65] O'Neal debated whether to have a more invasive surgery that would have kept him out an additional three months, but he opted against the more involved procedure. [239] O'Neal challenged kickboxer and mixed martial artist Choi Hong-man to a mixed martial arts rules bout in a YouTube video posted on June 17, 2009. [131] He received the position in return for breaking news of his NBA retirement on the service. And the only thing that can kill Superman is Kryptonite. Don't miss me. I think I like this one better than the IPO name. The boring The Big X structure and a terrible story revolving around promoting some company. Make sure to select such a name that will impress everyone. 8. [78], In the 2006 NBA Playoffs, the Heat first faced the younger Chicago Bulls, and O'Neal delivered a dominating 27 point, 16 rebound and 5 blocks performance in game 1 followed by a 22-point effort in game 2 to help Miami take a 20 lead in the series. Since Shaq loves the superman cartoon, he tattooed himself with the Superman symbol on his left arm captioned with the Man of Steel. What does Charles Barkley think about his good friend Shaquille O'Neal? On December 8, 2005, he was sworn in, but elected for a private ceremony to avoid distracting attention from the other officers. Shaquille O'Neal Basketball, Kryptonite 46 Copy quote I don't know how it is for you earthlings, but where I'm from, strength is mental. On December 17, 1996, O'Neal shoved Dennis Rodman of the Chicago Bulls; Rodman's teammates Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan restrained Rodman and prevented further conflict. O'Neal was already wary of the long-term damage his frequent consumption of these medications might have. His plans involved buying the mortgages of those who had fallen into foreclosure and then selling the homes back to them under more affordable terms. "You've got to love this as a big guy," O'Neal said while breaking . Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham recently offered up contradictory explanations when asked about LA's decision-making regarding star center Anthony Davis. Looking at this picture of Shaq andthe Terminator's ex and son, I'm sure you agree. However, his high school team did not have a 33 jersey, so O'Neal chose to wear No. "[21] Because of his stepfather's career in the military, the family left Newark, moving to military bases in Germany and Texas. The couple has four children: Shareef (b. January 11, 2000), Amirah (b. November 13, 2001), Shaqir (b. April 19, 2003),[304] and Me'arah (b. [188] Coach Phil Jackson let O'Neal miss a home game so he could attend graduation. Let's stand up and play like men, and I think our guy did that tonight. Being more than 7 feet in height, and weighing almost 150 kg, he was one of the heaviest NBA players ever. [80][81] After one of those missed games, a Christmas Day match-up against the Lakers, he ripped Jackson, who O'Neal had once called a second father, referring to his former coach as "Benedict Arnold". [312][313] Shareef played in college for the UCLA Bruins before transferring to LSU. Jackson's influence resulted in a newfound commitment by O'Neal to defense, resulting in his first All-Defensive Team selection (second-team) in 2000. In the summer of 2005, when asked about Bryant, he responded, "I'm sorry, who?" Shaq gave himself this nickname when he became involved in promoting a company that allegedly tried to help smaller investors get access to IPOs. The new nickname from Shaquille O'Neal and the rest of the Inside the NBA crew is more of a direct shot at the weight of the NBA Hall of Famer. He also taunted Bryant for not being able to win a championship without him. Shaq Daddy For basketball fans over the age of 30, Shaquille O'Neal or Shaq, as he's better-known is an NBA legend who, after claiming the Rookie of the Year Award in 1993, would eventually go on to help lead the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships. [134], After his 1996 experience, he declined to play in international competition. Because in 2000, after eliminating Arvydas Sabonis and Rik Smits from the playoffs, Shaq dubbed himself The Big Deporter since both players gave up NBA basketball and went back to their native countries to stay! But his actual basketball career gave birth within itself when he joined the Orlando Magic NBA team in 1992. The name of that album? Through his playful antics, his joking and cutting up with reporters, and always making his interviews appear on SportsCenter due to his humor, he has acquired many different nicknames through the years. Shaquille O'Neal 5,250. I'm totally cool with Kobe. [42], On the team's first full day at the Olympics in Atlanta, the media announced that O'Neal would join the Los Angeles Lakers on a seven-year, $121million contract. He was named as a member of the All-NBA Third Team. "[150] The Lakers retired his No. comment . Bad: Any initials (KG, KD, MJ, etc.) Shaquille O'Neal Basketball, Winning, Persons 33 Copy quote I am Superman. [87] During a practice in February 2008, O'Neal got into an altercation with Riley over the coach ordering a tardy Jason Williams to leave practice. He even dished out some of the most lasting nicknames to his fellow superstars, like Paul "The Truth" Pierce, Dwyane "Flash" Wade and Tim "The Big Fundamental" Duncan, but O'Neal always saved plenty for himself. Why did he gain that nickname? It is overused and often done poorly. [30] During his rookie season, O'Neal averaged 23.4 points on 56.2% shooting, 13.9 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game for the season. [336], O'Neal turned down a $40 million deal with Reebok after hearing a mother complain about how expensive his shoes were. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. Shaquille's impressively powerful scores in his 18 years career with the Lakers team ranked his eighth position in the NBA league history with average scores of a double-double of 24.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 28,596 points. Shaquille's mother named him, which means in the Islamic language - little warrior. But luckily for you, weve collected a massive list of catchy, funny, and original nicknames for Shaq for you to choose from. If its your thing, I am completely cool with that. In this article, we will share with you some cool and funny Nicknames for Shaq. Lord of the Rings 24. O'Neal was the third-ranked player all-time in free throws taken,[147] having attempted 11,252 free-throws in 1,207 games up to and including the 201011 season. O'Neal went through the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Reserve Academy and became a reserve officer with the Los Angeles Port Police. Its more than a nickname: Shaq could legitimately refer to himself as Dr. Shaquille ONeal in official correspondence. They are passionate about turning your everyday moments into memories and bringing you inspiring ideas to have fun with your family. shaq nicknames for other playersgeorgia foraging laws. Those are just a few of the Shaquille O' Neal nicknames he has either gave himself or has acquired to date; the man has a never-ending supply of nicknames for himself. Before 2010, he was the last active American player to have a gold from the FIBA World Cup. Its not my thing. [172] On June 22, 2008, O'Neal freestyled a diss rap about Bryant in a New York club. At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. Both The Big Cactus and our next entry come from Shaqs late-career foray around the league. [114] The Atlanta Hawks and the Dallas Mavericks also expressed interest but had stalled on O'Neal's salary demands. O'Neal and the crew member then got into an altercation and after Kutcher told O'Neal he had been Punk'd, O'Neal made an obscene gesture at the camera. ". From nickname to video game: Shaq Fu was playable on consoles like the Sega Genesis and Game Boy in 1994 and featured ONeal traveling through an alternate dimension to rescue a boy from an evil mummy and its henchmen. Jackson had previously said, "The only person I've ever [coached] that hasn't been a worker is probably Shaq.