In 1996, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Shaquille O’Neal as a free agent from the Orlando Magic. Little did they know, with the help of Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant, Shaq would be quintessential in creating a Lakers dynasty in the new millennium.
In 1992, the big man was the first overall pick in the NBA Draft, earning Rookie of the Year for the 1992-1993 season and reaching the 1995 Finals with the Magic. He then went on to play eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won three consecutive championships in 2000, 20001, and 2002. Many say Shaq’s trade to the Miami Heat in 2004 was due to tension between himself and star Kobe Bryant. He won a championship with the team in 2006. Shaquille ended his time in the NBA with stints with the Suns, Cavaliers, and Celtics. He retired in 2011.
While on the Lakers, Shaq earned the MVP award for the 1999-2000 season. He was selected for 15 All-Star games in his career and earned three All-Star MVPs. He is one of only three players to win NBA MVP, All-Star game MVP and Finals MVP awards in the same year (2000).
The Lakers will retire Shaquille O’Neal’s #34 jersey during halftime tonight of their game against the Mavericks. Show your pride by sporting some super awesome Shaq computer and phone wallpapers.
The Lakers face the Dallas Mavericks tonight, and are sitting anxiously in the ninth seed in the West. With only eight games left, everything is a tug and pull back and forth between the Lakers, Jazz and Mavericks. Essentially, Los Angeles needs to win every game to even feel comfortable about that spot. A win for the Lakers would give them a 3-1 edge in the head-to-head matchup with the Mavs, giving them the season series as well as an increase in their lead in the playoff chase.
Steve Nash will not be playing tonight, unfortunately.
For more on the pregame report, click here.
Dallas Mavericks (36-37) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (38-36)
7:30 PM PST, April 2, 2013
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
CA
TV: TWC Sports Network, TNT
Mavericks Projected Starting Line-up
PG: Mike James
SG: O.J. Mayo
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Elton Brand
Key Reserves: F Brandon Wright, G Darren Collison, G Vince Carter
Lakers Nation News
Video: Shaq Visits Jimmy Kimmel Before Jersey Retirement Ceremony
A Complete Timeline of the Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant Feud
Lakers Man Cave Essential: A Collection of Shaq Art
Top 10 Shaquille O’Neal Videos During Career With L.A. Lakers
Lakers Wallpaper: Shaquille O’Neal’s Legacy Immortalized at Staples
In House That He Helped Build, Shaq’s No. 34 Will Hang In Rafters
Lakers vs. Mavericks Pre-Game Report: Lakers Look To Win Critical Game
Videos: Lakers Players Open Up About Shaq’s Jersey Retirement
Lakers News
Video Breakdown: The Lakers Offense Needs HORNS [Silver Screen and Roll]
Mavericks at Lakers Preview: Can You dig It? [Silver Screen and Roll]
Steve Nash Out Tuesday Against Mavericks [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers Still Struggling With Free Throws, Turnovers and Defense [latimes.com]
Mavericks-Lakers Preview [Yahoo! Sports]
Kobe Bryant Likes to Remind Shaq Who Has More Rings [ProBasketballTalk]
Who Will Grab Number 8? [5 on 5]
Mike D’Antoni Passes Along Sympathies Regarding Passing of NBA Referee Greg Willard [Inside the Lakers]
Three Rings Stolen From ex-Laker A.C. Green [Fox News]
If Shaq Had a Nickname: Big Worrywart [LA Times]
Lakers Reflect on Shaq’s Career [ESPN LA]
Dwight Howard Happy for Shaquille O’Neal as Jersey Ceremony Approaches [ESPN Los Angeles]
Shaquille O’Neal to be Elevated to Level of Great Lakers Centers [latimes.com]
Lakers Prep For Mavericks [Lakers Blog]
Mike D’Antoni’s Taken Same Approach on Intentional Fouls Toward Shaq, Dwight Howard [Inside the Lakers]
Dwight Howard Says Los Angeles Lakers Should Win All Remaining Games [ESPN Los Angeles]
Mike D’Antoni Calls Steve Nash ‘Doubtful’ for Mavericks on Tuesday [latimes.com]
As the Lakers Prepare to Retire Shaq’s Jersey, Kobe Now Appreciates His Former Foe [Yahoo! Sports]
2013 NBA playoffs: Lakers, Jazz, Mavericks in Race for 8th Seed in Western Conference [The Point Forward]
Preview: Mavericks vs. Lakers [Purple and Gold Blog]
D’Antoni: Steve Nash (Hamstring) ‘Doubtful’ [Orange County Register]
Steve Nash’s Hamstring, Hip Issues to Keep Him Out Against Dallas [Inside the Lakers]
Steve Nash Out For Lakers on Tuesday vs. Mavericks [ProBasketballTalk]
Lakers: Race For the Eighth Spot in West [ESPN Insider]
If Shaq Nags Dwight Howard, It’s Only for the Laker’s Own Good [latimes.com]
NBA News
Damian Lillard’s Future Goal: MVP [ProBasketballTalk]
Monroe Scores 24, Pistons Beat Raptors 108-98 [Yahoo! Sports]
J.R. Smith, Jefferson Named Conference Players of Week [NBA.com]
Wizards Making Late-Season Push [ProBasketballTalk]
Manu Ginobili of San Antonio Spurs Expected to Miss 3-4 Weeks [ESPN]
Harden, Parsons Out for Rockets Against Orlando [NBA.com]
Actions of Heat and Spurs Not Equal, but NBA as a Rules Problem [CBSSports.com]
Knicks Ready to Celebrate 50 Wins [ProBasketballTalk]
Miami Heat Show How to Stop San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker [The Point Forward]
Jason Maxiell of Detroit Pistons Out for Season After Eye Surgery [ESPN]
Heat to Rest LeBron, Wade, Chalmers vs. Knicks Tuesday [ProBasketballTalk]
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade Out [Heat Index]
Stoudemire Happy After Surgery, but Playoffs Are Uncertain [NYTimes.com]
Pekovic Hammers Celtics in Minnesota’s 110-100 Win [Yahoo! Sports]
Wizards Making Late-Season Push [ProBasketballTalk]
Kyrie Irving of Cleveland Cavaliers Won’t Play Back-to-Backs for Now [ESPN]
Without Injured Lawson, Nuggets Still Expect to Run [NBA.com]
Knicks’ Tyson Chandler Could Return Tuesday Against Heat [ProBasketballTalk]
Paul Pierce of Boston Celtics Out Against Minnesota Timberwolves [ESPN Boston]
Sacramento, Seattle Ready for Fight to Call Kings Their Own [NBA.com]
Best N.B.A. Games of the Week [NYTimes.com]
NBA Won’t Fine Heat for Sitting Three Starters [Fox News]
John Wall Admits a Number of Point Guards are Better Than Him, Still Wants to Get Paid [ProBasketballTalk]
Zaza Pachulia of Atlanta Hawks Opts for Season-Ending Surgery [ESPN]
Nowitzki Sparking Mavs, Keeping Playoff Push Alive [NBA.com]
