[195] O'Neal told a reporter for ABC News that he plans to further his education by attending law school. Shaq gave it to himself after his Lakers threepeat. Upon signing with the Heat, O'Neal promised the fans that he would bring a championship to Miami. [53] O'Neal's 61-point game is the most recent game in NBA history that a player scored 60 or more points without hitting a 3-pointer. He's an athlete, entrepreneur and playerformer playernot necessarily in that order. He also had a voice over role in the 2013 film The Smurfs 2. This nickname refers to the fact that Shaq got a doctorate degree in education from Barry University in 2012. Don't miss me. He was good with a witty phrase, but it was still an awkward nickname. They then defeated the Chicago Bulls in the conference semifinals. [324] O'Neal is a Prince Hall Freemason. Following the trade to Phoenix, O'Neal averaged 12.9 points while starting all 28 games with the Suns. The Big Aristotle, The Big Cactus, and Dr. Shaq Wilt Chamberneezy are some of his aliases. The new nickname from Shaquille O'Neal and the rest of the Inside the NBA crew is more of a direct shot at the weight of the NBA Hall of Famer. He was not yet done collecting nicknames. Much like when Shaq and Chuck joked about one another, Brandon Ingram took the joke in stride and laughed off the comment. On more than one occasion during the year, Sports Illustrated writer Jack McCallum overheard O'Neal saying, "We've got to get [head coach] Matty [Guokas] out of here and bring in [assistant] Brian [Hill]."[32]. Bad luck still haunted the squad, however, as Wade dislocated his left shoulder, leaving O'Neal as the focus of the team. [227] O'Neal was a wrestling fan and made appearances at many WWE and AEW events. [325][326][327], On January 31, 2012, O'Neal was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald's All-Americans. As simple as it was effective, its hard to describe ONeal any more accurately. It is around 30 miles southeast of Atlanta. Last "big" nickname mentioned will be The Big Cactus which he acquired when he went to the Phoenix Suns (he has approximately two million nicknames beginning with "The Big"). More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Add to list Awards 2 wins & 6 nominations Photos 139 Known for Steel 2.9 John Henry Irons 1997 Shaquille O'Neal Basketball, Know How, Knows O'Neal averaged 15.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game. "We have professionals who know what to do. Being more than 7 feet in height, and weighing almost 150 kg, he was one of the heaviest NBA players ever. Jackson immediately challenged O'Neal, telling him "the [NBA's] MVP trophy should be named after him when he retired. He was bigger than basketballalmost biggerthanlifea three-time world champion anda man of many nicknames. ", "All-Time #NBArank: Shaq comes in at No. The Big Agave is boring but at least unique. The Big Sidekick is a name he has acquired since he has helped guards like Kobe Bryant or Dwyane Wade win the Championship (LeBron next?). Be the first one to comment on this story. O'Neal was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all-time by being named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team in 1996. I like the fact that this nickname has an original structure. In 19931994, O'Neal's second season, Hill was the coach and Guokas was reassigned to the front office. It was probably to promote something. They include some great names like The Big Aristotle and some less-great names like Witness Protection. His trademark mobility and explosion had been often absent. Buy: $99.00. Free shipping for many products! But enough with The Big X. I like the history of the game. They often invite local celebrities to lead the orchestra for a song as a form of promotion. In November 2022, FTX filed for bankruptcy, wiping out billions of dollars in customer funds as well as O'Neal's personal stake in the company. was the next nickname he gave himself, standing for Most Dominant Ever. [204][205], On January 20, 2015, O'Neal was sworn in as a reserve officer for Doral, Florida's police force. Call me a sucker for a good pun. Shaq Daddy -- The Hall of Famer is one of the biggest personalities in the business. If I could have ranked this one lower, I would have. This is a nickname paying homage to former NBA center Wilt Chamberlain and is considered to be Shaq's favorite nickname so far. In 2023, Shaq has created a new nickname to add to the list. Back when he was still with Orlando in 1993, he even released a rap album called Shaq Diesel, which featured the legendary Phife Dawg and went platinum. Shaquille ONeal, who lost to Olajuwon in the NBA Finals as a young player. I hate this nickname. In other words, had Shaq, with just four years and one completed contract under his belt, been a free agent in this year's class, or in 1994, or 1998, or 1999, or 2000, or at any other time in . Shaq could be his own industry in the wake ofthe 19-year run he pulled offin the NBA. After he made a steal and got a breakaway dunk to force overtime in a game his Lakers would go on to win, Shaq said he was a great thief, The Big Felon. It is overused and often done poorly. Advertisement Let's explore Shaq's best monikers: 12. [199], O'Neal maintained a high level of interest in the workings of police departments and became personally involved in law enforcement. They were later joined by Shaquille ONeal, who lost to Olajuwon in the NBA Finals as a young player. "[21] Because of his stepfather's career in the military, the family left Newark, moving to military bases in Germany and Texas. On February 27, 2009, O'Neal scored 45 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, his 49th career 40-point game, beating the Toronto Raptors 133113. 1 pick in the NBA draft. [2] O'Neal is regarded as one of the greatest basketball players and centers of all time. But we are coming to the end of this list. [15] He was a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings from 2013 to 2022 and is the general manager of Kings Guard Gaming of the NBA 2K League. Osama Bin Shaq, my favorite of the nicknames, is a name which he gave himself after terrorizing Keith Van Horn under the boards in the 2002 NBA Finals. [253][254] After weeks of discussion, the match was cancelled. Make sure to select such a name that will impress everyone. Now, both The Stilt and The Diesel have their jerseys hanging in the rafters at Staples Center. In the summer of 2005, when asked about Bryant, he responded, "I'm sorry, who?" He is so famous that I have heard of him. From bestowing nicknames such as Paul "The Truth" Pierce, Dwyane "Flash" Wade, and Tim "Big Fundamental" Duncan to dawning several himself, Shaq has more talent for aliases than Jennifer Garner. ", "Why Shaquille O'Neal Blames Himself for Divorce From Ex-Wife Shaunie", "Shaquille O'Neal's Son Shareef O'Neal Does Not Play Like His Dad", "Watch: Shaq's son dominates as a high school freshman", "Shareef O'Neal Transferring to LSU, Talks Final Text From Kobe", "Shaquille O'Neal's girlfriend schools him on sleep apnea", "Shaquille O'Neal and Nicole "Hoopz" Break Up Following Outburst", "Former Sudbury couple 'Hoopz' and Shaq call it quits", "Shaq keeps her on go, but still no place like home for Laticia Rolle", "EXCLUSIVE: Have Shaq & Girlfriend Laticia Rolle Called It QUITS?! [57] He opted against a more involved surgery to return quicker. In 2002, Shaq's Los Angeles Lakers swept the New Jersey Nets team. Sounds like I should say "bless you," but the Diesel's wealthhis cakeis nothing to sneeze at. O'Neal has made numerous appearances in television commercials, including several Pepsi commercials, such as one from 1995 which parodied shows like I Love Lucy (the "Job Switching" episode), Bonanza, and Woody Woodpecker. What are the types of nicknames you could use? Seriously, the Big Banana. At the same time, it uses the boring The Big X formula. Fans say the tattoo is accurate because his stern looks like a Big Felon, strong like steel, and flies like Superman. We succeeded in casting him after a lot of effort. [179] His 1993 debut album, Shaq Diesel, received platinum certification from the RIAA. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. This lawyer wants him to pay up", "Shaq distances himself from crypto and FTX collapse: 'I was just a paid spokesperson', "Influencers beware: promoting the wrong crypto could mean facing a class-action lawsuit", "EXCLUSIVE: Shaquille O'Neal Accused Of Computer Hacking, Throwing Evidence In Lake, Says New Lawsuit | Radar Online", "Shaq Smacked With Kiddie Porn Frame-Up Lawsuit", "Shaq Hit With Lawsuit For Attempting to Plant Child Porn on Former Employee's Computer", "Shaq Sued by Former Employee for Allegedly Hacking Into Computer to Destroy Evidence of Affairs and Reputedly Attempting to Frame Employee for Possessing Kiddy Porn", "Former Employee Says Shaq Took Up Computer Hacking, Threw Evidence in a Lake", "SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, vs SHAWN DARLING AND MENACHEM MAYBERG", "Ex-NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, two others being sued by man with rare genetic disease who was mocked via social media", "Shaq Makes Fun Of Disabled Man YouTube", "Binion v. O'Neal, CASE NO. [34] He was voted into the All-Star game and also made the All-NBA 3rd Team. One linguist says that sports nicknames are thriving thanks to heavy sports media coverage. Yes, this nickname as well"Shaq Diesel"has its roots in 1990s hip-hop "slanguage." That's hip-hop, not hip-"Hoopz." Boop, boop, bee doop. That's hip-hop, not hip-"Hoopz." [12] In October 2021, O'Neal was again honored as one of theleague's greatest players of all-time by being named to theNBA 75th Anniversary Team. The Boston Pops perform a holiday concert every winter. As part of the show, O'Neal got into a physical altercation with seven-foot-tall wrestler Big Show. "[20], O'Neal came from a tall family. Another nickname, similar to M.D.E., he gave himself was L.C.L. [269] O'Neal refused to endorse Wheaties cereal because he preferred Frosted Flakes. [107] He had surgery on the thumb on March 1 and returned to play in time for the first round of the playoffs. As documented by Joey Ramirez of NBA.com, Shaq went by at least 10 different nicknames during his career. shaq nicknames for other players. The nickname Shaq Fu comes from his time with the Schnickens. The nickname is supposed to suggest that he has the power and endurance of a diesel engine. 33. He played in 73 games, his most since 2001 season, averaged 22.9 points a game along with 10.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. In addition, O'Neal was plagued by fouls, and during one stretch fouled out of five consecutive games. Doctor Shaq: This nickname was invented in 2005 as a way to dis Andrew Bynum, Shaq's "replacement" on the Lakers. Agave is a plant native to the dry, hot parts of the Southwestern U.S. and parts of South America. The different language nicknames. This one should probably rank even lower. He voiced animated versions of himself on several occasions, including in the animated series Static Shock (2002; episode "Static Shaq"), in Johnny Bravo (1997; episode "Back on Shaq"), in Uncle Grandpa (2014; episode "Perfect Kid"), and in The Lego Movie (2014). We have seen in a lot of places that short and simple nicknames are liked by people a lot. Shaquille O'Neal Basketball, Winning, Persons 33 Copy quote I am Superman. [300][301][302] However, O'Neal has said, "I'm Muslim, I'm Jewish, I'm Buddhist, I'm everybody 'cause I'm a people person. Although his rapping abilities were criticized at the outset,[177][178] one critic credited him with "progressing as a rapper in small steps, not leaps and bounds". The 2nd Golden Age began when Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, and David Robinson faced off regularly in the league. The Big Shaqtus is a nice attempt, but it just feels a bit too forced. That works. Kobe Stake Through the Heart Bryant 18. Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (/kil/ sh-keel; born March 6, 1972), nicknamed Shaq (/k/ shak), is an American sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA. He has enough cake. For other uses, see, First scoring title and NBA Finals (19941996), Career lows and disagreements (20072008), Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game, S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, List of career achievements by Shaquille O'Neal, Shaquille O'Neal Presents His Superfriends, Vol. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. O'Neal is one of the first African Americans to portray a major comic book superhero in a motion picture, having starred as John Henry Irons, the protagonist in the 1997 film Steel. The Big Shamrock Shaq adopted "The Big Shamrock" during his short time in Boston. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. [83], In a rematch of the year before, the Heat faced the Bulls in the first round of the 200607 NBA playoffs. [172] On June 22, 2008, O'Neal freestyled a diss rap about Bryant in a New York club. Biggie's mentorSean "Puff Daddy" Combswas one of the more prominent "Daddy" dudes in the industry. In reference to his completion of his MBA degree, he stated: "It's just something to have on my resume for when I go back into reality. Other companies and products for which he has appeared in commercials include Reebok, Nestl Crunch, Gold Bond, Buick, The General, Papa John's, Hulu, Epson, and IcyHot, among others. [157][158], During the 2000 Screen Actors Guild strike, O'Neal performed in a commercial for Disney. Toney struggled with drug addiction and was imprisoned for drug possession when O'Neal was an infant. Whether it be Superman, Diesel, Shaq Daddy, The Big Baryshnikov, The Big Aristotle, Wilt Chamberneezy, The Big Shamrock, or even Shaq Fu, O'Neal has made a name for himself with all these nicknames. Below are some tips to choose a good nickname. CHARLOTTE, N.C. The irony wasn't lost on Kevin Durant as he walked down a back hallway at the Spectrum Center, exiting the building . Big Aristotle Me'arah O'Neal? But, seriously, enough with the Big X. I am now going to ignore the fact that half these nicknames are The Big X. Shaq loved to dance. It occurred on March 13, 2001, when Pierced dropped 42 points on Shaq . [69] After the series, O'Neal was angered by comments made by Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak regarding O'Neal's future with the club, as well as by the departure of Lakers coach Phil Jackson at the request of Buss. For people of other cultures to hold a name of Arabic origin reverberates with globalization and respect for worldwide culture. Aside frombeing seen with someglorified hood rats, he's done well in life,but he'llcontinue to be associated withthat uglywordrat. [57], Using Jackson's triangle offense, O'Neal and Bryant enjoyed tremendous success, leading the Lakers to three consecutive titles (2000, 2001, and 2002). [256], On the November 11, 2020 episode of AEW Dynamite, Jade Cargill interrupted Cody Rhodes and teased the arrival of O'Neal in All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It almost sounds like an insult. Yes, this nickname as well"Shaq Diesel"has its roots in 1990s hip-hop "slanguage." In O'Neal's third season, 199495, he led the NBA in scoring with a 29.3 point average, while finishing second in MVP voting to David Robinson and entering his third straight All-Star Game along with Hardaway. Miami returned to Chicago and closed out the series in the 6th game, highlighted by another dominating performance by O'Neal who finished with 30 points and 20 rebounds. Shaq got a doctorate degree in education from Barry University in 2012. 12. "[150] The Lakers retired his No. O'Neal also owns 150 car washes, 40 health clubs, and the Big Chicken brand of chicken sandwiches. His crossover dribble was the best ever displayed by an NBA center. The Big Shamrock was given to ONeal in the last of his nineteen NBA seasons when he played for the Celtics. "[100] In a 2006 interview in TIME, O'Neal said if he were NBA commissioner, he would "Make a guy have to beat a guynot flop and get calls and be nice to the referees and kiss ass. In this case, it refers to a person who uses a certain name. They make fun of each other at every opportunity, but both have respect like brothers. When I first typed this list, I was at a complete loss for what this nickname meant. Watch #AEWDynamite this Wednesday night on @TNTDrama 8e/7c or AEWPlus.com by @FiteTV for our International fans. It is important to understand the context behind the occasion, what nickname Shaq was given, and how . I mean, how to get their moneytheir cakeso they won't end up broke. "[102], The 2009 NBA Playoffs was also the first time since O'Neal's rookie season in 199293 that he did not participate in the playoffs.