How Good Was Shaq Actually?

A career retrospective of the NBA's most dominant player ever, Shaquille O'Neal.

Follow Nonstop Sports

Imagery supplied by Getty Images

[thouzer.]

Why do we need a video of how great Shaq really was? The man reminds us every other day on TNT

[dinakarsm]

if Shaq had mamba mentality, he would have won at least 8 rings and been in GOAT conversation...

[ciaranryan]

The fact that he underachieved in his career is wild

[chrismathgenius]

It's crazy that Shaq became a superstar despite a questionable work ethic.

[garysouza]

Shaq vs Wilt would have been epic, and would have forced O'Neal to concentrate on conditioning and expanding his skill set. No way Wilt would have let Shaq have the upper hand, and Shaq wouldn't have backed down either. Wilt would have the athletic edge, but still epic.

[ilikeapplesauce]

“Float like a butterfly sting like a bee might be chubby but I’m faster then you’ll ever be I’m not like mike I’m not like Kobe but I’m me and that’s what makes me the greatest to ever be” Shaq

[survivortheoneincharge]

Shaq from 2000-2002 had one of the best 3 year stretches ever.

[borisfenestra]

No, Shaq didn't have a mamba mentality, but Shaq didn't NEED a mamba mentality. The man rumbled his way into the history books while living his best life possible.

[Coach_McCann]

One thing this video fails to mention is one of Shaq’s strongest value brought to a team. Sure they mention pts rebounds and blocks but add an incorrect throwaway line about Dwade being the main reason they won. Watch that series again or any of the Lakers.

Shaq gets the ball and immediately three people on the opposing team swarm him. He then passes it to a teammate who either scores or passes it to the other side of the court to a wide open uncontested player for the score. Dwade a second year player dominated BECAUSE Shaq brought all the defensive heat and led to wide open uncontested shots from his teammates.

[youlikedyourowncomment]

"Take me to your father immediately", he knew whats up.

[slanderman]

Shaq is a national treasure. My mom has called shaq, since draft day, her "teddy bear". Pretty cute still seeing a 50 year old woman call a giant her teddy bear.

[derrickhizon]

Shaq was amazing up until his Suns tenure. Shaq diesel is still a sight to behold with. Shaq-fu was quick, powerful, and very entertaining and still has one of the best signature sneakers of all time for me.

[dragonfire]

Shaq is one of a kind definitely a top 5 Center in NBA history

[SincereSentinel]

I still watch Blue Chips a few times a year. It's a great & mostly forgotten/underrated movie. Having first seen it with my Dad, when I was only 5, Shaq & Penny Hardaway instantly became my favorite players and started following basketball. By 1996, however, a man by the name of Kobe Bryant came onto the scene, which made me into a Laker fan for life. And just so happened Shaq went to the Lakers the same year. Ah the

[RodgertheNegotiator]

Shaq was there for everyone. We all grew up with Shaq and I honestly love the Man. He's such a great influence on everyone in the 90s; who helped many people. Such a sweetheart who was friendly and funny. The Shaq shoes were such a great idea also. He is truly one of the best nba player who became even bigger because his personallity was just true.

[istvanbus]

I've never liked Shaq or the Lakers, rooted for the 76ers in that finals but I simply have to admit that Shaq was the most dominant center I've seen playing ball. I was hoping that Divac or Mutombo could stop him but even these great centers could not hold him back.
Hands down, he was phenomenal.

[Ryenobal]

In terms of Greatness (accomplishments):

1. Kareem- 6 MVPs, 6 Championships, and had the greatest offensive weapon- The Skyhook
2. Wilt- Most athletic physical specimen and most-dominant individually
3. Bill Russell- Arguably the greatest team player of all-time and the winningest with 11 Championships
4. Hakeem- Most-skilled overall of all centers; best two-way center of all time
5. Shaq- most physically-imposing center (Wilt may have been more imposing, but many claim Wilt's game was more finesse}, the epitome of brute force

[rig-zag]

I saw Shaq at a game in Boston in 2002 and even though he was injured and in street clothes, he towered over everybody else in the arena. You had to have seen him in the flesh to truly appreciate how gargantuan a human he really was.

[lewtown]

Shaq is a legend on and off the court. If he worked as hard as Kobe, I believe he would would have a strong case to be #1 all time. He was unstoppable in his prime.

[Kodai_Relik]

For those who don’t know. The magic actually took Chris Webber 1st overall and the warriors took penny. They then got traded for each other. Imagine a Shaq and C Web duo.