——–Celebrate Shaq’s jersey retirement with this Shaquille O’Neal wallpaper!——–
Nevertheless, I’m thankful these two giants (in personality and size) have, at the very least, placed their differences aside while speaking publicly. As a lifelong, and loyal supporter of the Purple and Gold, I never enjoy seeing/hearing the organization (or any of its ‘pillars’) cast in a negative light.
In fact, I still get goosebumps when I watch clips of Dr. Buss’ Memorial service, as not only was it a display of generations of excellence and dominance, but it was also a shining example of just how much love and solidarity there is (and always should be) amongst the Lakers’ family tree. Considering the difficult year all of Lakers Nation has endured, now more than ever, is when we must not only honor the past, but stand together while the organization and team find a way back to supremacy.
It’s no secret, but I’ve been a fan of O’Neal’s since his days of playing behind, and eventually alongside LSU’s Stanley Roberts, whom O’Neal has publicly acknowledged as part of what made him the Hall Of Fame player he developed into. From afar, I watched in pure awe, as O’Neal ripped his way through the league and dominated the post as a member of the Orlando Magic. To this day, I can still remember the feeling of bewilderment as I sat and watched the press conference with former-GM Jerry West standing beside a (then) svelte O’Neal holding the Purple and Gold. For the record, this was just two weeks after the Lakers had traded starting center Vlade Divac to the (then) Charlotte Hornets for a lesser-known 17-year-old kid from Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.
Although O’Neal was every bit as impressive in his first three seasons in L.A. (1996-1998), the hiring of head coach Phil Jackson proved to be the pivotal move in redefining O’Neal’s career as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. O’Neal had always been considered the perfect blend of size, brute power, and a mesmerizing amount of agility and grace to go along with it. Jackson was the first coach, according to O’Neal, that was able to help him combine his physical talents with the proper mindset and approach to the game. Prior to Jackson’s arrival, O’Neal and Bryant suffered several disappointing playoff exits at the hands of the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs.
Next Page: Shaq Cements Laker Legacy
Once Jackson arrived, he was not only able to harness and properly channel the emerging greatness within Bryant, but he also challenged O’Neal to be truly dominant and dedicated. Not only did he produce career numbers (29.7 PPG, 13.6 REBS, 3.8 assists, 3 BPG) while on the way to his first MVP season, but O’Neal and a budding Kobe Bryant led the Lakers all the way to a 4-2 Finals victory over Reggie Miller and the Indiana Pacers. A dynasty was truly born, as the trio of Jackson, O’Neal, and Bryant utilized the Triple-Post (Triangle) Offense to their definite advantage as the Lakers rattled off the franchise’s sole 3-peat from 2000-2002.
O’Neal’s tenure in Los Angeles certainly wasn’t without fault or errors, if we’re being fair and anti-revisionist. Aside from the continuous feuding over a proverbial “pecking order” with Bryant, there was also the lack of urgency in taking care of a necessary toe surgery following the 3-peat. That unfortunate decision not only earned him the moniker ‘Company Time’ (by some) as a result of his “I got hurt on company time, so I’ll heal on company time” stance, but it effectively ended that core group’s reign of dominance. There was also the unacceptable public showing of disrespect towards Dr. Jerry Buss, which he has since apologized for.
——–Celebrate Shaq’s jersey retirement with this Shaquille O’Neal wallpaper!——–
There are some that would still question O’Neal’s work ethic given the fact that he never led the league in rebounding or blocked shots. In all honesty, those criticisms are totally fair, given the amount of talent that man actually possessed. Ultimately, I elect to look beyond these things, as there is nothing to be gained from a hypothetical “what if he had ______’s work ethic” argument at this point. O’Neal was the man and player that he was, and there’s nothing that will change that.
I only reference all of this, because O’Neal’s actual L.A. story wouldn’t be complete without a true and fair assessment of the period. Ultimately, as I believe you should be judged by the total sum of your deeds, I’m still grateful for everything O’Neal provided the basketball loving community. While the negatives and sensitive feelings surrounding his eventual exit are undeniable, his positives while donning the number 34 in gold are far more lasting for me. Regardless of any critique, whether just or unjust, O’Neal is still a 3-time Finals MVP and was and was part of one of the most devastating 1-2 combo’s the league has seen.
Love him or hate him, his jersey will forever hang amongst the other all-time greats to wear a Los Angeles Lakers uniform. With 44 (West), 13 (Chamberlain), 22 (Baylor), 25 (Goodrich), 32 (Magic), 33 (Abdul-Jabbar), 42 (Worthy), 52 (Wilkes) and now 34 (O’Neal) in the rafters, the only question remaining is which number is next? Eight or 24?
Here’s a look back at the most iconic Bryant/O’Neal play of their history and an extended look at O’Neal’s entire journey, from junior high and throughout his Hall of Fame career:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLOMEmRQ40U
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In case you missed it, be sure to check out Kobe in our dunk of the week!
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