In the summertime of 1996, the Los Angeles Lakers, within the midst of a years-long rebuild after Magic Johnson examined optimistic for HIV, signed Shaquille O’Neal and traded the draft rights to Kobe Bryant. The 2 superstars teamed as much as lead the Lakers to a few consecutive NBA titles within the new millennium, whereas creating many cherished recollections for followers.
But to today, many followers view the O’Neal-Bryant duo when it comes to what they did not accomplish moderately than what they did. There’s a lingering feeling, whether or not true or not, that the duo would have received no less than two or three extra titles had they not break up in 2004.
That summer time, O’Neal requested a commerce and was despatched to the Miami Warmth. He earned his fourth ring in 2006, however he shortly declined and have become a job middle for the rest of his profession.
Through the 2009–10 season, he performed for the Cleveland Cavaliers alongside LeBron James. Though the Cavs had the perfect report within the NBA that yr, they misplaced within the second spherical of the playoffs to the Boston Celtics regardless of being closely favored to advance out of the Japanese Convention.
Throughout his look on “The OGs Present,” O’Neal mentioned that due to this and different missed alternatives, he ought to have retired with eight world championships.
“After we discuss nice gamers, I had the chance to play with [LeBron James]too. I used to be so impressed together with his management and the way in which he performed. Once I was with him, I wasn’t Shaq, however I used to be a great position participant. We had been first in our convention, we performed Boston, Large Child broke me… pic.twitter.com/H9LoH8ilSH
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 22, 2024
Earlier than becoming a member of Cleveland, O’Neal was traded to the Phoenix Suns halfway by means of the 2007-08 season. Consequently, the Suns, who had been utilizing their famed “seven seconds or much less” offense within the mid-2000s, shifted to a extra conventional (or no less than what was thought of conventional on the time) offensive philosophy. Some thought that including O’Neal would put them excessive, however they misplaced within the first spherical of the playoffs that yr and didn’t even make the playoffs in 2009.
The large man’s closing act got here within the 2010-11 season with the Celtics, a staff that misplaced in 5 video games to James’ Miami Warmth within the Japanese Convention semifinals.
This text was initially revealed on LeBron Wire: Former Lakers participant says he ought to have received eight NBA titles
