Can You Dig It? : A Look at His Shaqness’ Colossal Footprint on the Game

Whether it was his charisma on air, his feats on the court, or his endless array of nicknames and quotes on record, The Big Fella had a resounding impact on the game of basketball. He managed to single-handedly change the game through the use of his enormous frame and personality.

Shaquille O’Neal was a consummate professional; his impact was visible on and off the court as evidenced by his four O’Brien trophies, three finals MVP awards, and MBA from the University of Phoenix. A few of his astounding and seemingly endless accomplishments and accolades are as follows:

• 28,596 Regular Season points ranks 5^th All Time
• 5,250 Postseason points ranks 4^th All Time
• 2,142 Postseason rebounds ranks 4^th All Time
• 393 Postseason blocks ranks 3^rd All Time
• 58% Regular Season Field goals ranks 2^nd All Time
• 56% Postseason Field Goals ranks 5^th All time
• 1996 “Best Supporting Actor” for his role in Kazaam (just making sure you’re still with me … P.S. If there was no part of you which second-guessed this, then you must not have seen the movie.)
• 15 career All-Star appearances rank 2^nd All Time
• 1993 Rookie of the Year
• 1999-2000 League MVP
• 1996 Olympic Gold Medal
• One of the 50 Greatest Players of All Time
• B.A. in General Studies at LSU
• And the list goes on…

Shaq’s career has him being called one of the most dominant players of all-time, as well being mentioned in the same breath as all-time greats like Russell, Chamberlain, Kareem, and Olajuwon. His success and legacy won’t be defined solely by his remarkable list of statistics and awards though, but rather by the intangible aspects of his career. He is widely recognized as the first exceedingly outgoing big man in the NBA. He paved the way for current personalities like that of Dwight Howard. His charisma in front of a camera or microphone was rivaled by none during his 19 year career. His well-balanced persona was enhanced by his extensive educational background supported by his two degrees. O’Neal is even in the process of earning his doctorate from Barry University with the subject of his dissertation aimed at “How Leaders Utilize Humor or Aggression in Leadership Styles.”

“The Diesel” will always be remembered as a well-rounded player and human-being, which makes his retirement, is a bitter-sweet one. It allows us to memorialize a career defined by longevity and success, but also represents the end of an era—an era led by one of the most polarizing players in NBA history, Shaquille O’Neal.