Shaquille O’Neal is entering the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend.
He enters with more than an incredible resume — four titles, three Finals MVPs, one regular season, MVP, 14 times All-NBA, and the list goes on — but as one of the most physically imposing and best big men ever to play the game. He did it drawing in fans the entire time with a personality almost as big as himself — he seemed to have a childlike joy at getting to play in the NBA.
Who is going to present him at the Hall this weekend?
Isiah Thomas, Julius Erving, Bill Russell, and Alonzo Mourning, Shaq told Shams Charania of The Vertical at Yahoo Sports in an interesting Q&A.
It’s a career where Shaq said he could have done a lot more than he showed on the court.“I only played 30 percent of my real game,” O’Neal told The Vertical. “I had a great career, but I didn’t get a chance to showcase what I can really do. That’s because the double- and triple-teams were coming so quick, I had to dominate, dominate, dominate inside. I had the ability to step out, go around defenders, dribble by people, but I never got to show that.
“I had to focus on being the most powerful, dominant player to ever play the game.”
Watch the highlights of early, Orlando Shaq and I don’t doubt his ability to dribble around defenders. Fans can often forget just how agile and quick Shaq was.
Congrats Shaq, you earned this weekend.
