4×
NBA Champion (4x)
2000200120022006
Four rings: a Lakers three-peat from 2000 to 2002, then a fourth title with Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat in 2006.
The résumé · 1992–2011
19 seasons.6 teams.4 rings.
For about a decade, the NBA's main strategy against Shaquille O'Neal was to foul him and hope. It mostly didn't work. Here's the damage, straight from the record books.
Calling for the ball in the post at Milwaukee, 2005.
28,596
Points
23.7 per game · No. 10 all-time today
13,099
Rebounds
10.9 per game
2,732
Blocks
2.3 per game · 8th all-time
.582
Field goal %
Ten FG% titles, an NBA record
4
Championships
2000, 2001, 2002 (Lakers) · 2006 (Heat)
3
Finals MVPs
Three straight, 2000–02
15
All-Star selections
Plus three All-Star MVPs
1,207
Games
Over 19 seasons, plus 216 in the playoffs
The trophy case
Hardware
Every major honor, with the years attached. Dust it carefully; it's heavy.
2000
NBA Most Valuable Player
This was about as close to unanimous as it got back then. Shaq took 120 of 121 first-place votes and 1,207 of a possible 1,210 points, the highest share since the award began in 1955-56. The one holdout was Fred Hickman of CNN/SI, who voted for Allen Iverson, and Shaq still brings it up years later. Shaq was also MVP runner-up in 1995 and 2005.
3×
NBA Finals MVP (three straight)
200020012002
Three Finals, three Finals MVPs: 38.0 points and 16.7 rebounds against Indiana in 2000, 33.0 points and 15.8 rebounds against Philadelphia in 2001, and 36.3 points and 12.3 rebounds against New Jersey in 2002. Michael Jordan is the only other player to win the award three years running.
15×
NBA All-Star (15x)
199319941995199619971998200020012002200320042005200620072009
Fifteen All-Star selections, starting as a rookie in 1993 when fans voted him a starter, the first rookie voted in as a starter since Michael Jordan in 1985. His 15th came with Phoenix in 2009. Per Basketball-Reference he played in 12 of those games and missed 1997, 2001 and 2002.
14×
All-NBA (14x)
19941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062009
Fourteen All-NBA selections: 8 First Team, 2 Second Team and 4 Third Team. That includes seven straight First Team picks from 2000 through 2006, with both the Lakers and the Heat.
3×
NBA All-Star Game MVP (3x)
200020042009
Shaq won three All-Star MVPs. In 2000 in Oakland he shared it with Tim Duncan (22 points, 9 boards). In 2004 at Staples Center he won it outright (24 points, 11 rebounds). In 2009 in Phoenix he split it with old running mate Kobe Bryant after scoring 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting.
1993
NBA Rookie of the Year
Shaq won the 1992-93 Rookie of the Year with 96 of 98 first-place votes (Alonzo Mourning got the other two) after averaging 23.4 points, 13.9 rebounds and 3.5 blocks. He also made the All-Rookie First Team.
2×
NBA Scoring Champion (2x)
19952000
Shaq led the league in scoring twice: 29.3 points per game for Orlando in 1994-95 and a career-best 29.7 for the Lakers in 1999-2000.
10×
Field Goal Percentage Leader (10x)
1994199819992000200120022004200520062009
Ten field-goal-percentage titles, the most in NBA history. Wilt Chamberlain has nine. The last came at age 36 with Phoenix, when he shot .609.
3×
All-Defensive Second Team (3x)
200020012003
Three All-Defensive Second Team selections during the Lakers years. He also finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in his 2000 MVP season.
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1996
Olympic Gold Medal
Gold with Team USA at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Shaq has called it 'one of the biggest achievements of my career.' He signed his Lakers deal during those same Games.
1994
FIBA World Championship Gold and Tournament MVP
With 'Dream Team II' in Canada, Shaq won gold and tournament MVP, averaging 18 points and 8.5 rebounds in just over 17 minutes a game.
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2016
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Enshrined in Springfield, Mass., on Sept. 9, 2016, in a stacked class. Instead of picking one presenter, Shaq chose four legends: Julius Erving, Alonzo Mourning, Bill Russell and Isiah Thomas. His classmates were Allen Iverson, Yao Ming, Sheryl Swoopes, Tom Izzo, John McLendon, Zelmo Beaty, Darell Garretson, Cumberland Posey and Jerry Reinsdorf.
2017
FIBA Hall of Fame
Inducted with FIBA's 2017 class, which also included the 1992 Dream Team and Toni Kukoc. The ceremony was Sept. 30, 2017 at FIBA's headquarters outside Geneva, Switzerland.
1996
NBA 50 Greatest Players (50th Anniversary Team)
Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History during the 1996-97 season, while he was still in his fifth NBA season.
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2021
NBA 75th Anniversary Team
Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021-22.
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Arcade · Stat explorer
Every Season, Charted
Nineteen seasons, colored by team. Pick a stat, hover or tab through the bars, click a team to spotlight it, or switch to the full table.
Points per game, by season
Regular-season stats from Basketball-Reference. The 2007–08 season is split between Miami and Phoenix.
Six jerseys
The Teams
Orlando to Boston: what he did in each uniform.
1992–1996
Orlando Magic
27.2PPG
12.5RPG
295GP
The No. 1 pick arrived in Orlando and took over right away: Rookie of the Year in 1993, the 1994-95 scoring title, four All-Star nods and a trip to the 1995 NBA Finals. Years later the Magic made him the first player in franchise history to have his number retired.
Arrived: Drafted No. 1 overall in the 1992 NBA Draft (June 24, 1992).
Left: Left as a free agent, signing with the Lakers on July 18, 1996.
1996–2004
Los Angeles Lakers
27PPG
11.8RPG
514GP
This was peak Shaq. Teamed with Kobe Bryant and coach Phil Jackson, he won three straight titles (2000-02) and was Finals MVP every time. He also won the 2000 MVP with 120 of 121 first-place votes. The run ended with a 2004 Finals loss to Detroit and a blockbuster trade.
Arrived: Signed as a free agent on July 18, 1996: a seven-year, $120 million contract, signed during the Atlanta Olympics. Orlando had reportedly offered about $115 million.
Left: Traded to Miami on July 14, 2004.
2004–2008
Miami Heat
19.6PPG
9.1RPG
205GP
Shaq famously rolled into Miami behind the wheel of a semi-truck, finished second in the 2005 MVP race, and teamed with Dwyane Wade on the 2006 championship team. That was ring No. 4. Pat Riley: 'We would not have won the championship in 2006 without the efforts of Shaquille O'Neal.'
Arrived: Traded from the Lakers on July 14, 2004 for Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, a 2006 first-round pick (later Jordan Farmar) and a 2007 second-round pick (later Renaldas Seibutis).
Left: Traded to Phoenix on Feb. 6, 2008.
2008–2009
Phoenix Suns
16.5PPG
9RPG
103GP
Plenty of people doubted the trade, and Shaq answered with a strong 2008-09: 17.8 points a night, a league-best .609 from the field, his 15th All-Star selection, All-NBA Third Team, and a share of the 2009 All-Star MVP with Kobe Bryant in Phoenix.
Arrived: Traded from Miami on Feb. 6, 2008 for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, a deal made by first-year Suns GM Steve Kerr.
Left: Traded to Cleveland in June 2009.
2009–2010
Cleveland Cavaliers
12PPG
6.7RPG
53GP
Shaq wore No. 33 in Cleveland as a veteran sidekick to LeBron James. He averaged 12.0 points in 53 games, and the Cavs beat Chicago 4-1 before falling to Boston in the 2010 East semifinals.
Arrived: Traded from Phoenix for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, a 2010 second-round pick (later Dwayne Collins) and cash.
Left: Became a free agent; signed with Boston in August 2010.
2010–2011
Boston Celtics
9.2PPG
4.8RPG
37GP
In his final season, wearing No. 36, Shaq shot a career-best .667 from the field, but a right Achilles injury that started on Christmas Day limited him to two of Boston's final 35 regular-season games. His last NBA game was Game 4 of the 2011 East semifinals against Miami.
Arrived: Signed as a free agent on Aug. 4, 2010 (a two-year deal).
Left: Retired June 1, 2011, with a year left on the deal.
Win or go home
Five Finals Runs
216 playoff games and 5,250 playoff points (24.3 a night). Here are the runs that reached the Finals.
1995
FinalistsOrlando Magic
- East First RoundBoston CelticsW 3-1
- East SemifinalsChicago BullsW 4-2
- East FinalsIndiana PacersW 4-3
- NBA FinalsHouston RocketsL 0-4
25.7 pts · 11.9 reb · 21 games
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1900
ChampionsLos Angeles Lakers
- West First RoundSacramento KingsW 3-2
- West SemifinalsPhoenix SunsW 4-1
- West FinalsPortland Trail BlazersW 4-3
- NBA FinalsIndiana PacersW 4-2
30.7 pts · 15.4 reb · 23 games
2001
ChampionsLos Angeles Lakers
- West First RoundPortland Trail BlazersW 3-0
- West SemifinalsSacramento KingsW 4-0
- West FinalsSan Antonio SpursW 4-0
- NBA FinalsPhiladelphia 76ersW 4-1
30.4 pts · 15.4 reb · 16 games
2002
ChampionsLos Angeles Lakers
- West First RoundPortland Trail BlazersW 3-0
- West SemifinalsSan Antonio SpursW 4-1
- West FinalsSacramento KingsW 4-3
- NBA FinalsNew Jersey NetsW 4-0
28.5 pts · 12.6 reb · 19 games
2006
ChampionsMiami Heat
- East First RoundChicago BullsW 4-2
- East SemifinalsNew Jersey NetsW 4-1
- East FinalsDetroit PistonsW 4-2
- NBA FinalsDallas MavericksW 4-2
18.4 pts · 9.8 reb · 23 games
Instant classics
Signature Moments
Broken backboards, a birthday 61, The Alley-Oop, and the night Indiana sent him to the line 39 times.
Nov. 6, 1992
18Rebounds in his NBA debut
Welcome to the League
In his NBA debut against Miami, the 20-year-old posted 12 points, 18 rebounds and 3 blocks in a 110-100 Magic win, and he was Player of the Week before the month was out.
Feb. 7, 1993
Backboard Breaker, Part 1: Phoenix
At Phoenix, the rookie threw down a dunk that broke the basket. Complex says the play 'put everyone in the NBA on notice and forced them to make stronger baskets.' His powerful dunks broke the steel backboard supports twice that rookie season.
Feb. 21, 1993
1stRookie voted an All-Star starter since Jordan (1985)
Rookie All-Star Starter
Fans voted him into the starting lineup of the 1993 All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, making him the first rookie voted an All-Star starter since Michael Jordan in 1985. He had 14 points and 7 rebounds for the East.
April 23, 1993
Backboard Breaker, Part 2: The Stanchion Falls
At New Jersey, Shaq hit a two-handed slam so hard that the entire stanchion came down, and the game was held up for more than 40 minutes. Orlando still won 119-116. That was the second time in about three months his dunks broke a basket.
Nov. 20, 1993
15Blocks (career high)
24 Points, 28 Boards, 15 Blocks
At New Jersey early in his second season, Shaq put up a monster triple-double: 24 points, 28 rebounds and 15 blocked shots in an 87-85 Magic win. The 28 rebounds and 15 blocks remain his career highs.
April 20, 1994
53Points
53 on the Timberwolves
Shaq scored 53 points on 22-of-31 shooting with 18 rebounds in a 121-101 win over Minnesota. It was his career high until the 61-point birthday game in 2000.
May 18, 1995
Orlando Knocks Out Chicago
The Magic closed out the Bulls 108-102 in Game 6 of the 1995 East semifinals in Chicago, with Shaq posting 27 points and 13 rebounds. He averaged 24.3 points and 13.2 rebounds in the series.
June 4, 1995
28.0PPG in the 1995 Finals
Game 7 Win and the 1995 NBA Finals
Shaq had 25 points and 11 rebounds in a 105-81 Game 7 rout of Indiana that sent the Magic to the 1995 NBA Finals. Houston swept the series, but 23-year-old Shaq averaged 28.0 points, 12.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists against the champs.
Feb. 16, 1996
1-for-22Career 3-point shooting
The One and Only 3-Pointer
Against Milwaukee, Shaq made the only 3-pointer of his NBA career: 1-for-1 that night in a 121-91 Magic win, part of a 31-point game. He finished his career 1-for-22 from deep.
July 18, 1996
7 yrs / $120MLakers free-agent contract
Hollywood Calling
During the Atlanta Olympics, Shaq signed a seven-year, $120 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, turning down a reported $115 million offer from Orlando. Showtime was back.
Feb. 13, 2000
All-Star Co-MVP in Oakland
Shaq scored 22 points with 9 rebounds and shared All-Star MVP with Tim Duncan as the West won 137-126. It was the first piece of his huge 2000: All-Star MVP, league MVP and Finals MVP in the same year.
March 6, 2000
61Points (career high)
61 Points on His 28th Birthday
Shaq marked his 28th birthday with 61 points on 24-of-35 shooting plus 23 rebounds as the Lakers beat the Clippers 123-103 at Staples Center. It was his career high.
June 4, 2000
15Point fourth-quarter deficit erased
The Alley-Oop
The Lakers trailed Portland by 15 in the fourth quarter of Game 7 of the West finals and came all the way back. With just over 40 seconds left, Kobe Bryant drove and lobbed, and Shaq slammed home the alley-oop for an 85-79 lead. L.A. won 89-84 and went to the Finals. Shaq scored 9 of his 18 points in the fourth.
June 9, 2000
39Free throw attempts (playoff record)
39 Free Throws: Hack-a-Shaq in Hyperdrive
In Game 2 of the 2000 Finals, Indiana fouled Shaq on purpose over and over. He finished with 40 points and 24 rebounds and went 18-of-39 at the line. The 39 attempts are the most in any playoff game in NBA history and broke Wilt Chamberlain's record of 34 for any game. The name 'Hack-a-Shaq' first described physical defense against him at LSU and in Orlando. Don Nelson's intentional-foul tactic, first tried on Dennis Rodman in 1997, was used on Shaq starting in 1999-2000.
June 19, 2000
38.0PPG in the 2000 Finals
Champion at Last
Shaq scored 41 points with 12 rebounds in a 116-111 Game 6 win over Indiana to win his first ring. He was Finals MVP after averaging 38.0 points and 16.7 rebounds on .611 shooting for the series.
Dec. 8, 2000
0-for-11Free throws
0-for-11 at the Line
Even legends have rough nights at the line. Shaq went 0-for-11 in a 103-95 loss to Seattle, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's 1960 mark (0-for-10) for most free throw attempts without a make. He still finished with 26 points and 16 rebounds.
June 15, 2001
15-1Lakers' 2001 playoff record
15-1: The Repeat
The 2001 Lakers went 15-1 in the playoffs, the best postseason record in NBA history at the time. The only loss was Game 1 of the Finals in overtime, when Shaq still had 44 points and 20 rebounds. L.A. finished off Philadelphia 108-96 in Game 5 (Shaq: 29 points, 13 rebounds), and he won his second straight Finals MVP at 33.0 points, 15.8 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game.
June 2, 2002
35 & 13Points and rebounds in Game 7
Overtime Game 7 in Sacramento
With the three-peat on the line, Shaq put up 35 points and 13 rebounds in a 112-106 overtime win at Sacramento in Game 7 of the 2002 West finals.
June 12, 2002
36.3PPG in the 2002 Finals
Three-Peat
The Lakers finished a sweep of New Jersey with a 113-107 Game 4 win (Shaq: 34 points, 10 rebounds). That made Shaq the only player besides Michael Jordan with three straight Finals MVPs. His 145 points set a record for a four-game Finals, passing Hakeem Olajuwon's 131.
Feb. 15, 2004
All-Star MVP at Home
At Staples Center, Shaq won the 2004 All-Star MVP on his own with 24 points and 11 rebounds as the West won 136-132.
July 14, 2004
Diesel Heads to South Beach
The Lakers traded Shaq to Miami for Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and draft picks. He rolled into town driving a semi, a moment the Heat recreated with a mini 18-wheeler at his 2016 jersey retirement.
June 20, 2006
4NBA championships
Ring No. 4
Miami won Game 6 in Dallas 95-92 to take the 2006 Finals 4-2. Shaq had 9 points and 12 rebounds in the clincher and won his fourth championship, with Dwyane Wade as Finals MVP. Pat Riley: 'We would not have won the championship in 2006 without the efforts of Shaquille O'Neal.'
Feb. 6, 2008
Shaq Joins the Suns
In a midseason blockbuster, first-year Suns GM Steve Kerr sent Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to Miami for Shaq.
Feb. 15, 2009
All-Star Co-MVPs: Shaq and Kobe
In his new home arena in Phoenix, Shaq scored 17 points in under 11 minutes on 8-of-9 shooting and shared All-Star MVP with former Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant. It was his third All-Star MVP.
June 25, 2009
Cleveland Comes Calling
The Cavaliers acquired Shaq from Phoenix for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, a 2010 second-round pick and cash, teaming him with LeBron James. 'It is a really unique and rare opportunity to bring in a player of Shaq's caliber,' said GM Danny Ferry.
Aug. 4, 2010
One Last Ride in Green
Shaq signed a two-year deal with the Boston Celtics and wore No. 36, his sixth NBA team.
May 9, 2011
The Final Bow
Slowed by a right Achilles injury, Shaq played his last NBA minutes, about three and a half of them, in Boston's Game 4 overtime loss to Miami in the 2011 East semifinals.
June 1, 2011
28,596Career points (5th all-time at retirement)
'We Did It. 19 Years, Baby.'
Shaq announced his retirement through a short video on Tout, linked from Twitter with the tweet 'im retiring.' In the clip he said: 'We did it. Nineteen years baby. I want to thank you very much, that's why I'm telling you first, I'm about to retire.' He retired fifth on the all-time scoring list with 28,596 points.
June 3, 2011
Full Circle in Orlando
Two days later, Shaq made it official at a news conference in the personal gym of his home in the Orlando suburbs, back in the city where his pro career started 19 years earlier.
Etched in the books
Records & Ranks
Some of these he's proud of. Some involve free throws.
Most Field Goal Percentage Titles: 10
Shaq led the NBA in field goal percentage 10 times (1994, 1998-2002, 2004-2006, 2009), the most in league history. Wilt Chamberlain is next with nine.
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Three Consecutive Finals MVPs
Finals MVP in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Since the award was first given in 1969, only Shaq and Michael Jordan (1991-93 and 1996-98) have won it three years in a row.
39 Free Throw Attempts in a Playoff Game
His 39 attempts in Game 2 of the 2000 Finals (June 9, 2000) are still the NBA playoff single-game record. At the time it was the record for any NBA game, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's 34.
Four-Game Finals Records (2002)
In the 2002 sweep of New Jersey, Shaq scored 145 points, a record for a four-game Finals (passing Hakeem Olajuwon's 131 in 1995). He also set four-game Finals records with 68 free throw attempts and 45 made.
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0-for-11 From the Line
On Dec. 8, 2000 against Seattle, Shaq missed all 11 of his free throws, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's 0-for-10 (Nov. 4, 1960) for most attempts in a game without a make.
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Near-Unanimous MVP
His 2000 MVP haul of 120 of 121 first-place votes (1,207 of 1,210 points, a 99.8% share) was the highest percentage in the award's history at the time, topping Michael Jordan's 96.5% from four years earlier.
15-1 Postseason
The 2001 Lakers' 15-1 playoff record was the best in NBA history at the time. Golden State's 16-1 run in 2017 later beat it.
No. 1 All-Time in Playoff Offensive Rebounds
Shaq's 866 career playoff offensive rebounds rank first in NBA history. He also averaged 10.7 free throw attempts per playoff game, also first all-time.
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28,596 Career Points
He was fifth on the NBA's all-time scoring list when he retired in 2011. Today he's 10th, passed since then by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant and James Harden. In the playoffs he scored 5,250 points, fifth all-time.
Free Throw Volume (and the Misses)
Defenses sent Shaq to the line constantly. His 11,252 career free throw attempts rank fourth in NBA history, and his 2,317 playoff attempts rank second. He made 5,935 of them (.527), which means 5,317 misses over his regular-season career.
2,732 Blocks
His 2,732 regular-season blocks rank eighth in NBA history, and his 459 playoff blocks rank fourth.
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Seven Straight All-NBA First Teams
All-NBA First Team every season from 1999-00 through 2005-06, with the Lakers and then the Heat. He had eight First Team selections in all.
1-for-22 From Three
In 1,207 regular-season games he made exactly one 3-pointer (Feb. 16, 1996 vs. Milwaukee) on 22 career attempts, and he never attempted a three in the playoffs.
All-time ranks (NBA)
- 8th (NBA) Career blocks (2,732)
- 15th (NBA) Career rebounds (13,099)
- 7th (NBA) Career field goals made (11,330)
- 4th (NBA) Career free throw attempts (11,252)
- 5th Playoff points (5,250)
- 5th Playoff rebounds (2,508)
- 4th Playoff blocks (459)
- 1st Playoff offensive rebounds (866)
- 2nd Playoff free throw attempts (2,317)
Scoring list: No. 5 at retirement, No. 10 today. NBA-only list. On Basketball-Reference's combined NBA/ABA list he ranks 12th. Active players' totals (LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden) will change once the 2026-27 season starts.
Immortalized
Rafters & Bronze
Retired numbers and statues. Bring sunglasses.
2013
Jersey Retired: Lakers No. 34
The Lakers raised No. 34 at halftime against Dallas at Staples Center on April 2, 2013. The night included a taped message from Kobe Bryant ('your number has officially been immortalized'), remarks from Phil Jackson and an unveiling led by Jeanie Buss. Shaq opened with 'Can you dig it?' and dedicated the night to Jerry Buss.
2016
Jersey Retired: Heat No. 32
Miami retired No. 32 at halftime against, fittingly, the Lakers on Dec. 22, 2016. His mother, Lucille, drove onto the court in a mini 18-wheeler, a nod to the semi Shaq drove into town in 2004. The Heat came back from 19 down to win 115-107.
2024
Jersey Retired: Magic No. 32
Orlando retired No. 32 in a postgame ceremony after the Magic's game against Oklahoma City on Feb. 13, 2024. Shaq is the first player in franchise history to have his number retired.
Jersey Retired: LSU No. 33
LSU has retired his college No. 33.
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2017
Lakers Statue Outside Staples Center
On March 24, 2017, the Lakers unveiled a 9-foot, 1,200-pound bronze of Shaq dunking. It hangs about 10 feet off the ground outside the arena. Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, Jerry West and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar spoke, and some of Shaq's kids helped him unveil it.
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2011
LSU Statue
Three months into retirement, LSU unveiled a 900-pound bronze of a young Shaq dunking in his Tigers uniform outside its basketball practice facility at the north end of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.