[HitsterParticipant]

Shaq turns 40 today, I hope the big guy has a great day and will no doubt have a big celebration. Thanks for all the great career memories Shaq and showing that Size does matter!

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

I started getting into basketball right around Shaq’s rookie year and he quickly became my favorite player. Have to say, was ecstatic all 4 times he won the championship and rooted him on to many more than that. He played in a different era than Russell, Chamberlain and Abdul-Jabbar, but I feel he is the best. Some even say Hakeem is better and he may have been more complete, but no one had Shaq’s combination of size and athleticism. Wilt is really the only one close and it is hard to see him backing down the Diesel at his baddest.

Jury is still out on Shaq as a commentator (well, McJudgement Day seems to have already come to a verdict), but I have a lot of great memories of Shaq as a player. No one threw the ball through the net like Shaq Diesel. You have the broken/destroyed backboards, the monster dunks on David Robinson, Chris Dudley and Shawn Bradley amongst others. Of course, the alley-oop from Kobe to seal Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals over Portland is one of my favorite highlights. I say, post some great Shaq memories to celebrate the Big Aristotle turning 40.

Shaq on Chris Dudley (In Spanish, making it better):

Top 10 Dunks on Shawn Bradley, with the many of Shaq taking the top spot:

Shaq on David Robinson at the 1996 ASG in San Antonio. Michael Jordan won MVP with 20 points and 4 assists, though I remember Shaq being kind of pissed as he had 25, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks and this monster throw down on his host:

The analysis of the famous Shaq vs. Chuck Brawl:

 Shaq crushes Portland to get to first Finals with the Lakers:

Shaq scores 61 points against the Clippers on his birthday. The Clippers refused to give him some tickets, so Shaq went into beast mode for his career high:

Shaq was 17 years old when he played in the 1989 McDonald’s All-American Game. He finished the game leading his West team to a 112-103 victory, in which he scored 18, pulled down 16 boards and blocked 6 shots. Was awarded co-MVP of the game with Bobby Hurley. They do not make prospects like this anymore.

Of course, had to include the famous "Shaq’s Kobe freestyle". Maybe not Shaq’s finest moment, but in retrospect, fairly hilarious. Guess Kobe got the last laugh, but it showed Shaq doesn’t hold a grudge……..:

The All-Star dance off with LeBron and Dwight. Shaq won:

Some famous Shaq quotes (introduced by another favorite of mine, Jennifer Hedger):

Finally, my favorite Shaq commercial of all time. Shaqtastic, 29 points!:

[ivan138Participant]

 he did a lot for us fans, kept nba interesting on n off the court, happy birthday sir

[Sasha4MVPParticipant]

 I remember when I was a kid I figured that there were always centers like Shaq, that would dominate the post and essentially score at will.  As I grew up, I realized how truly special Shaq was and how potent him and Kobe were.  It’s a shame that their egos got in the way but that’s life.  Hopefully the same doesn’t happen to Westbrook and Durant.

[HitsterParticipant]

It was interesting to see a lightweight Shaq clip back from 1989 when he was 260lbs he was maybe a 100lbs heavier towards the end of his career but still a force to be reckoned with. My favourite Shaq moments were his early years with Orlando when he was the newest and the biggest thing in the NBA and it coincided with MJ’s first retirement.

People pointed out that Hakeem and David Robinson were better players then as both were near their peak but watching Shaq was always more fun. My only ever regret is that he never got to 30,000 points in regular season games and that Orlando didn’t pair him with C-Web in the 1993 draft  but he is perhaps the most charismatic andone of the greatest NBA big men ever.   

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

Too bad Shaq got left off the Dream Team. He might have been the best player on the court at times. He would have destroyed the other centers. Magic to Shaq would have been the best alley-oop combination ever.

I thought he was pretty good in Blue Chips. Probably sums up college basketball recruiting pretty well. Probably John Calipari’s favorite movie of all time. lol

Shaq is clearly one of the best players ever. He turned the Big Three Centers (Russell, Wilt, Kareem) into the Big Four.

He put the Lakers back on the map.

Happy birthday Shaq!

[aamir543Participant]

Shaq and Yao are the reason I love basketball as much as I do today. The first game I ever watched was the first showdown between Shaq and Yao. Ever since I’ve fallen in love with the game.

[dazeoneParticipant]

I hated LA but always loved Shaq…Happy B Day playa ….Sixers fan

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