Shaquille O'Neal

College

Louisiana State University

Pro team(s)

Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics

Hall of Fame

⭐ Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal was born on March 6, 1972, in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Lucille O'Neal and stepson of Philip Harrison, a U.S. Army sergeant whose career moved the family repeatedly — from Newark to Georgia to Germany and eventually to San Antonio, Texas, where Shaq attended Robert G. Cole High School and grew into a physical force unlike anything the game of basketball had seen. At Louisiana State University, his combination of size (7'1"), athleticism, and raw power made him the consensus No. 1 pick in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic. What followed was one of the most dominant careers in the history of professional sports. O'Neal won four NBA championships (three with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000, 2001, and 2002; one with the Miami Heat in 2006), was named Finals MVP three times, and won the regular-season MVP in 2000. He was a 15-time NBA All-Star and led the league in scoring twice. His combination of size, skill, and unstoppable force in the low post transformed the game and made him the most dominant center since Wilt Chamberlain. Off the court, he became one of the most recognizable athletes and entertainers in the world. He played professional basketball until 2011 — 19 seasons — and scored 28,596 career points. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. Born in Newark, New Jersey.