http://behindthebasket.squarespace.com/btb/2011/6/2/shaqs-place-among-the-best-centers-ever.html

Also, how many championships did shaq win without a hall of fame sidekick? You can say all those players needed Shaq, but he most certainly needed him as well.

If Shaq had worked more on his game other than just bullying over people as he did and worked to get along with his teammates he could’ve and should’ve won 7 or 8 championships easily.

Shaq is probably the most obnoxious personality in sports in the past twenty years and the only reason he isn’t torn apart by everyone is because he was kind to the media. He was an obnoxious player and a horrible teammate, which is why he played for 6 different teams. I can understand if he left as a free agent every time, but he was traded, that shows that he was a horrible teammate.

Shaq should have retired before he played for Phoenix, Cleveland, or Boston. He got by the last several years on his annoying personality and being bigger than everyone else, not because of any skill that he had at that point.

Therefore both Wilt and Kareem should be above Shaq

REALLY SHAQ KAZAM?! A RAPPING GENIE?!

He bulldozed people bc he was bigger then them?….ok and? should we penalize Yao Ming because he’s taller then them?

WASNT A TON OF SKILL?
you try being that big and having coordination to play basketball… please believe there are other human beings with Shaq’s natural size but none of them play basketball because none of them have skill…

Footwork for a drop step, baby hook, up & under, etc… thats skill! – he doesnt just wake up with that size and be able to make moves down low like that…it takes work…and work leads to skill…
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What about his passing from the post? , understanding lanes & cutters , where double teams are coming from, etc… that takes skill physically as well as mentally

free throws? – he made them when they mattered most – TRUE – see Miami vs Mavericks ’06 – clutch free throws he made late in games… also many playoff games with LA he would hit them down the stretch

Refs had to change what an offensive foul was? More like refs had to change what a defensive foul was because they would HACK the ISH outta him and it would not get called…kinda like how Dwight Howard gets hacked these days and sometimes does not get the call – Stan Van doesnt go nuts for no reason…

Shaq has taken 3 different franchises to the Finals…Its no coincidence that his side kicks went downhill for a while after he left them…

Penny? – career over after Shaq left Orlando (knicks & suns years are not what penny was – we know that)

Kobe? – eliminated swiftly by the Suns, and non-relevant in the Championship chase until the power move for Gasol was made…

Wade?- see Lebron

Nash?- ehhh, he did make the west finals after shaq left, but he got a Shaq on his last wheels after the Kerr trade…

Lebron?- see Wade

I’m just trying to do you a favor, talking in basketball circles about how Shaq is not that good will instantly lose you credibility…Thats one of those “oh Troy Aikman wasn’t that good…(eyes roll)” – the man has 3 rings, & Shaq has 4…

To each his own. But just about any guy who has played in the league would like to have their name mentioned as being one of the top 4 of all time. In most conversations of the top 4 you will find that 4 in some combination.

1. Kareem
2. Shaq
3. Wilt
4.Russell
5. The Dream

Glad that I got to see Shaq’s career. Thought that LSU squad with Chris Jackson and Stanley were fun to watch.

This man represents an era. Last of the a dying breed – a TRUE CENTER

On the court, in his prime – the most dominant player in the game. His drop step was devastating, no center could check Shaq straight up without fouling him.

Off the court – blue chips (great movie its all on youtube – must see), biggie and rap (cool stuff), & charisma made the NBA more popular

I really can not put into words what Shaq really meant to an entire generation of kids – me being 1 of them… sad day it means I’m gettin’ old & times are changing…

When I think of Shaq…

1) BRINGING DOWN THE ENTIRE BASKET with Orlando…

2) The Kobe alley-oop vs Portland and the infamous pointing to Kobe coming back down court…

3) Nick Nolte going to Algiers in Blue Chips, walking in a backdoor gym & seeing Shaq reject a shot 100 feet & dunking with absurd power…Nolte’s face is priceless…

4) the CHARITY WORK – being santa – handing out gifts to kids in poverty…

5) the sacramento “queens”

List goes on and on…

played with penny, wade, kobe, lebron, nash, celts big 3,

played vs – hakeem, MJ, dwight, etc…

This guy SHAQ – has done & accomplished any and every thing an NBA player could do on & off court…

LOVE U MAN!