[RUDEBOY_Participant]

I just saw on Shaq’s Twitter’s page that he plans to Retire this year..He said 3 years ago that the 2011 2012 season would be his last…But injuries seem to force him to do it earlier…This might be a premature announcement and we might be seeing Brett Favre type of thing..

Its this is true..This marks the end of a great career of 1 of the greatest and miss understood talents the NBA has ever seen..Shaq retires having won 4 titles and only 1 MVP Award..But if you look at his career stats he should’ve won a couple more MVP Awards…

[Stojakovicfor3Participant]

Here’s the link http://deadspin.com/5807463/

[Johnny Chill]

Where does Shaq rank in all time Centers?

top 5? wilt, russell, kareem, shaq, hakeem

thoughts?

[steviechillzParticipant]

 🙁 Sad day.  Hope he joins the fellas on TNT

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Johnny Chill,

definitely top 5.  I would place him right after the Big Three (Wilt, Russell, Kareem) and somewhat ahead of Hakeem Olajuwon. 

Shaq won 4 titles in seven years (with 5 finals appearances in that time).  Went to the Finals with 3 different teams.  Between 1995 (when he took Orlando to the Finals) until 2006 (where he won the title with Miami along with a lot of help from Wade) he had one of the greatest runs by any big man in NBA history.  The alpha dog with Orlando and their main scorer, the alpha dog (and primary scoring option) on at least 2 of the Lakers title teams, and then the 2nd option on the Miami Heat title team.  I can’t really think of another center who has been the alpha dog scorer (as a center) on 3 title teams.  Bill Russell wasn’t the primary offensive weapon on his teams.  Maybe Kareem with the title in Milwaukee and a top 1/2 scoring option on the Showtime Lakers. 

He was a superstar his rookie year and his extended prime (1995-2002) is among the greatest in NBA history (and he remained a top flight legit 1st tier center until 2006 or 2007).

 

 

[akhan786Participant]

THE BIG RETIREMENT

[Tha_PrinceParticipant]

 Much respect to the big man. Truly is a legend on and off the court. 

Not often is there a combination of size and athleticism we saw with him. 

I’m sure he’ll focus more on Television now.

[GlenTaylorSucksParticipant]

Shaq will go down as probably the 4th best center (ahead of Hakeem, behind KAJ, WC, BR). I think he goes down as the most freakishly dominant player to ever play- remember when he could run the floor like a guard, AND be able to break the hoops on dunks? That was terrifying. He was unguardable. Not to mention that an entire tactical approach (Hack-a-Shaq) was made solely to limit his opportunities.

Personally, I hope he goes back to rap (Shaq-Diesel), or making awesome video games like Shaq-Fu. Joining Chuck and the TNT crew would be an equally hilarious venture.

[OldSkoolBasketballParticipant]

the guy will be missed. Does he still have that tv show of his?

[NJHooper95Participant]

I dont know if you can put any center ahead of him. The NBA has zone defense now because of Shaq. Teams use to stock up on big men just for fouls against Shaq. A freak of Nature.

[cabbycabParticipant]

 There will never be another Shaq.  No man that size will be able to get off the floor that fast and dunk that hard.  This guy was more freakish than D.Howard IMO.  

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

You could make a case for Shaq being the top center ever.  I mean, he was bigger than Wilt with Kareem and Russell’s ability to get to the finals and win titles many times in his prime.

4 titles in 7 years is very nice.  MJ had 6 in 8 years, Russell had 11 in 13 years, and Magic/Kareem had 5 in a decade (the eighties).  Those are the only guys ahead of Shaq (well, Kobe also has five in a decade but 3 of those came with Shaq). 

He was THE best center in the league for several years and a top 5 center for nearly two decades.

[McDunkin]

Thank you Shaq

You were one of my favorite all time bigmen and back in my middle/high school b-ball days i was called the many versions of the Shaq name…not only for my eight and gigantic feet, but for also being crosseyed

You also were the inspiration for one of the greatest diss freestyles ever

P.S.

Kazaam and Steel changed my life forever

[HotSnotParticipant]

Shaq could have been the single most dominant player EVER… but he spent the last few years of his Lakers Career getting fat.. and then injured… then traded… still was dominant enough to win another chip in Miami in his first year… even though he was injured alot, and getting fatter.  The following season he got fatter, and injured, then fatter and injured,… then traded to the Suns, where he lost 5 pounds… then got injured and put on another 20.  He was so fat with Boston he struggled to dunk and get any lift.  He pulled a calve muscle trying to run for gods sake.  Basically anytime he tried to move he got injured.  If he could have found some possible way to keep his weight under control there’s no reason he still couldn’t put up 20 and 10 today.  A 290 pound Shaq would be quick, agile and explosive.  He won’t be like he was in his 20’s but his late thirties in great shape would still destroy every center in the league.  Too bad he loved food more then his legacy… and what was with those free throws.  20 years of practice and he couldn’t ever hit more then 60%?  A monkey could have hit 80% after 20 years of practice.

In any event… Shaqs first 10 years were his career.  The rest were pedestrian where he lost his work ethic and we referred to him as Shaq just by habit.  I’m sure he played at over 400 pounds a couple of seasons and showed up to camp heavier then that a few times.  Atleast if he was an "in shape" 400 but the guy got his offseason exercise from reaching for the remote and luggin his ass to the fridge. 

Its too bad.  The Shaq We all knew and loved retired 7-8 years ago.  This is just paperwork.

[mj23mj23besteverParticipant]

ive got him 5th all time behind russel wilt kareem hakeem then shaq diesel the nba will truly miss one of the greatest personlaties in history dam hed be great on tna wiht the chuck wagon imagine him and barkley jabbin jokes at each other lol

 

[durantula83Participant]

You can debate whether or not he was the best center in history but there is no doubt Shaq was the most dominant and unstoppable inside player that has ever played this game.

[sixers12Participant]

Shaq was a true freak of nature.  A man his size with his athleticism, simply dominated the game.  Sad day to see a legend retire, but it was his time.  Hope he gets a position in broadcasting as I would LOVE to hear this man comment on games.

[JJeff6Participant]

He was just getting older and all the wear and tear on his knees were slowing him down.  I gaurentee you he wasnt just sitting there getting "fat" or "fatter" he was just getting older.  So chill about the fat thing because this man had the heart of 10 lions and would do anything he physically could to get a championship and help his team win.  Your post was wrong, he may have slowed down, but that sure as fucck wasnt due to his lazyness and getting "fat".

[marcusfizer21Participant]

It’s about time Diesel retires… He has nothing to prove now… He has had a career that 80% of the people in the league would only dream of having… 4 time NBA Champ, 1 time MVP, been an All-Star most of his life, had albums, movies and has been regarded as one of the best and dominating big men the NBA has ever owned… He is certainly going to be missed…

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Does this mean Allen Iverson might enter the Hall when Shaq does?

[HitsterParticipant]

Didn’t AI effectively retire from the NBA a year earlier than Shaq so may be HOF eligible before the Diesel, either way both will surely enter it as soon as they are eligible.

Shaq was a freak and like Kobe it’s amazing to think he won only one MVP award in his career. Still his legacy will live on, he has his titles, his wealth so why play on longer than you need to.

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