Content deleted Content added
format |
|||
Line 119:
O'Neal became a [[free agent]] after the 1995–96 NBA season. In the summer of 1996, O'Neal was named to the [[Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics|United States Olympic basketball team]], and was later part of the gold medal-winning team at the [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Olympics]] in [[Atlanta]]. While the Olympic basketball team was training in Orlando, the ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'' published a poll that asked whether the Magic should fire Hill if that were one of O'Neal's conditions for returning.<ref name=macmullan_19960701>{{cite news |last=MacMullan |first=Jackie |author-link=Jackie MacMullan |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1008323/index.htm |title=Poof! Shaquille O'Neal is among a host of NBA free agents who could vanish from their teams |quote=It asked whether the Magic should fire coach Brian Hill if that were one of O'Neal's conditions for returning. An overwhelming 82% answered no. |date=July 1, 1996 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517075849/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1008323/index.htm |archive-date=May 17, 2010 |access-date=November 9, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=wojnarowski>{{cite news |last=Wojnarowski |first=Adrian |author-link=Adrian Wojnarowski |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-shaqmagic060209 |title=Shaq's legacy binds Magic, Lakers |quote=The poll appeared as Shaq and the Olympic basketball team trained in town. |date=June 2, 2009 |work=Yahoo! Sports |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111210164254/http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-shaqmagic060209 |archive-date=December 10, 2011 |access-date=November 9, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> 82% answered "no".<ref name=macmullan_19960701/> O'Neal had a power struggle while playing under Hill.<ref name=reilly>{{cite news |last=Reilly |first=Rick |author-link=Rick Reilly |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/features/shaq/flashback/shaqs_world/ |title=Shaq's world |quote=He hated the power struggle with his coach, Brian Hill. |date=April 21, 1997 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103144143/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/features/shaq/flashback/shaqs_world/ |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=November 9, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=blinebury>{{cite news |last=Blinebury |first=Fran |url=http://www.nba.com/2010/news/07/01/shaq.leaving/index.html |title=Magic are proof that wounds from star's departure do heal |quote=There were occasional gripes at coach Brian Hill. |date=July 1, 2010 |work=NBA.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809131150/http://www.nba.com/2010/news/07/01/shaq.leaving/index.html |archive-date=August 9, 2010 |access-date=November 9, 2010 }}</ref> He said the team "just didn't respect [Hill]".<ref>{{cite book|last= O'Neal|first=Shaquille|title=Shaq Talks Back|publisher=[[St. Martin's Paperbacks]]|year=2002|isbn=978-0-312-98259-1|page=52|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cIXaWfTsc5YC&pg=PA52 |access-date= November 7, 2010|quote=We just didn't respect him. Sometimes he went from nice to hardcore and people were looking around, like, 'This ain't the guy we know.'}}</ref> Another question in the poll asked whether O'Neal was worth $115 million, in reference to the amount of the Magic's offer; 91.3% of the response said it was not.<ref name=wojnarowski/><ref name=reilly/> O'Neal's Olympic teammates teased him over the poll.<ref name=wojnarowski/><ref name=blinebury/> He was also upset that the Orlando media implied O'Neal was not a good role model for having a child with his longtime girlfriend with no immediate plans to marry.<ref name= macmullan_19960701/> O'Neal compared his lack of privacy in Orlando to "feeling like a big fish in a dried-up pond".<ref>{{cite book|last=O'Neal|first=Shaquille|title=Shaq Talks Back| publisher= St. Martin's Paperbacks |year= 2002|isbn=978-0-312-98259-1|page=151|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cIXaWfTsc5YC&pg=PA151 |access-date= November 14, 2010|quote=When I was in Orlando, I really felt like a big fish in a small, dried-up pond. No matter what I did, it got talked about, until I couldn't really live my life.}}</ref> He also learned that Hardaway considered himself the leader of the Magic and did not want O'Neal making more money than him.<ref>[[#oneal2011|O'Neal, MacMullan 2011]], pp. 104–5, 108, 110.</ref>
On the team's first full day at the Olympics in Atlanta, the media announced that O'Neal would join the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] on a seven-year, $121 million contract.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19960718/2339914/nba----lakers-sign-oneal-raise-ticket-prices |title=NBA – Lakers Sign O'Neal Raise Ticket Prices |date=July 18, 1996 |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=The Seattle Times |access-date=May 29, 2009 |archive-date=August 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827002326/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19960718&slug=2339914 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1370&dat=19960720&id=8WUVAAAAIBAJ&pg=3531,3152523 |title=Shaq signs multi-million contract with LA Lakers |work=[[Manila Standard]] |date=July 20, 1996 |access-date=December 29, 2010 |archive-date=February 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221163145/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1370&dat=19960720&id=8WUVAAAAIBAJ&pg=3531,3152523 |url-status=live }}</ref> O'Neal insisted he did not choose Los Angeles for the money; discussing the signing he referred to a couple of his product endorsements, saying: "I'm tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink [[Pepsi]], wear [[Reebok]]."<ref>{{cite news |last=Araton |first=Harvey |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/19/sports/sports-of-the-times-shaq-is-now-california-dreamin.html |title=Sports of The Times;Shaq Is Now California Dreamin' |quote=So is greed, Michael Douglas once argued as Gordon Gekko, though O'Neal's changing coasts and uniforms is not about money. We repeat: not about money. |date=July 19, 1996 |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100802133503/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/19/sports/sports-of-the-times-shaq-is-now-california-dreamin.html |archive-date=August 2, 2010 |access-date=November 15, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Elliot|first=Stuart|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/04/business/the-media-business-advertising-addenda-sports-products-deal-for-shaquille-o-neal.html|title=Sports Products Deal For Shaquille O'Neal |quote=The athlete's other product agreements include Pepsi-Cola and Reebok. |date=November 4, 1993|newspaper=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130122922/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/04/business/the-media-business-advertising-addenda-sports-products-deal-for-shaquille-o-neal.html |archive-date=November 30, 2010 |access-date=November 15, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Lakers won 56 games during the [[1996–97 NBA season|1996–97 season]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1996-97 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1997.html |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111173132/https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1997.html |url-status=live }}</ref> O'Neal averaged 26.2 points and 12.5 rebounds in his first season with Los Angeles; however, he again missed over 30 games due to injury.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Clifton |title=Injury to O'Neal is a Blow to Lakers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/14/sports/injury-to-o-neal-is-a-blow-to-lakers.html |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=New York Times |date=February 14, 1997}}</ref> The Lakers made the playoffs, but were eliminated in the second round by the [[Utah Jazz]] in five games.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.nba.com/history/playoffs/19961997.html | title= 1997 Playoff Results | website= NBA.com | access-date= December 29, 2010 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100420014909/http://www.nba.com/history/playoffs/19961997.html | archive-date= April 20, 2010 }}</ref> In his first playoff game for the Lakers, O'Neal scored 46 points against the [[
The [[1997–98 NBA season|
With the tandem of O'Neal and teenage superstar [[Kobe Bryant]], expectations for the Lakers increased; however, personnel changes were a source of instability during the [[1998–99 NBA season|1998–99 season]]. Long-time Laker point guard [[Nick Van Exel]] was traded to the [[Denver Nuggets]];<ref>{{cite news |last1=Staff |first1=CBSNews.com |title=Lakers Trade Van Exel to Nuggets |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lakers-trade-van-exel-to-nuggets/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |publisher=CBSNews.com |date=June 23, 1998}}</ref> his former backcourt partner [[Eddie Jones (basketball)|Eddie Jones]] was packaged with back-up center [[Elden Campbell]] for [[Glen Rice]] to satisfy a demand by O'Neal for a shooter.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Staff |first1=CBSNews.com |title=Lakers Grab Rice in Big Trade |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lakers-grab-rice-in-big-trade/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |publisher=CBS News |date=March 10, 1999}}</ref> Coach [[Del Harris]] was fired,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Heisler |first1=Mark |title=Lakers' Coach Fired as Team's Turmoil Continues |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-feb-25-mn-11652-story.html |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 25, 1999}}</ref> and former Lakers forward [[Kurt Rambis]] finished the season as head coach.<ref>{{cite news |title=PRO BASKETBALL; Rambis Hired to Lead Lakers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/27/sports/pro-basketball-rambis-hired-to-lead-lakers.html |access-date=May 5, 2024 |work=New York Times |date=February 27, 1999}}</ref> The Lakers finished with a 31–19 record during the [[1998–99 NBA lockout|lockout-shortened season]]. Although they made [[1999 NBA Playoffs|the playoffs]], they were swept by the [[San Antonio Spurs]], led by [[Tim Duncan]] and [[David Robinson (basketball)|David Robinson]] in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.<ref>{{cite web |title=1998-99 Los Angeles Lakers Roster and Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1999.html |website=Basketball Reference |access-date=May 5, 2024}}</ref> The Spurs would go on to win their first NBA title in 1999.
Line 129:
In 1999, prior to the 1999–2000 season, the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] hired [[Phil Jackson]] as head coach, and the team's fortunes soon changed. Jackson immediately challenged O'Neal, telling him "the [NBA's] MVP trophy should be named after him when he retired."<ref>{{cite news |last=Kreigel |first=Mark |title=Jackson shares thoughts on final season |date=May 18, 2011 |work=FoxSports.com |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Phil-Jackson-shares-candid-thoughts-on-final-season-as-Los-Angeles-Lakers-coach-051811 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111012329/http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Phil-Jackson-shares-candid-thoughts-on-final-season-as-Los-Angeles-Lakers-coach-051811 |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In a November 10, 1999, game against the [[Houston Rockets]], O'Neal and [[Charles Barkley]] were ejected. After O'Neal blocked a layup by Barkley, O'Neal shoved Barkley, who then threw the ball at O'Neal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shaq, Barkley scuffle, are ejected|url=https://assets.espn.go.com/nba/news/1999/1110/163531.html|agency=Associated Press|access-date=January 8, 2012|date=November 11, 1999|archive-date=February 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202011853/http://assets.espn.go.com/nba/news/1999/1110/163531.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 6, 2000, O'Neal's 28th birthday, he scored a career-high 61 points to go along with 23 rebounds and 3 assists in a 123–103 win over the [[
O'Neal was also voted the [[1999–2000 NBA season|1999–2000 regular season]] [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]], one vote short of becoming the first unanimous MVP in NBA history. [[Fred Hickman]], then of [[CNN]], instead chose [[Allen Iverson]], then of the [[Philadelphia 76ers]], who went on to win MVP the next season. O'Neal also won the scoring title while finishing second in rebounds and third in blocked shots. Jackson's influence resulted in a newfound commitment by O'Neal to defense, resulting in his first [[NBA All-Defensive Team|All-Defensive Team]] selection (second-team) in 2000.<ref>{{cite news| title= Phil Jackson's tenure produced the most success and fun we've ever seen| work= Los Angeles Times| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110517052801/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/11/sports/la-sp-heisler-lakers-20110512| first= Mark| last= Heisler| url= https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2011-may-11-la-sp-heisler-lakers-20110512-story.html| date= May 11, 2011| url-status=live| archive-date= May 17, 2011| access-date= June 17, 2015}}</ref>
Line 739:
| 37 || 36 || 20.3 || '''.667''' || .000 || .557 || 4.8 || .7 || .4 || 1.1 || 9.2
|- class="sortbottom"
| 1,207 || 1,197 || 34.7 || .582 || .045 || .527 || 10.9 || 2.5 || .6 || 2.3 || 23.7
|- class="sortbottom"
| 12 || 9 || 22.8 || .551 || .000 || .452 || 8.1 || 1.4 || 1.1 || 1.6 || 16.8
{{S-end}}
Line 837 ⟶ 817:
| 2 || 0 || 6.0 || .500 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .5 || .5 || .0 || 1.0
|- class="sortbottom"
| 216 || 214 || 37.5 || .563 || .000 || .504 || 11.6 || 2.7 || .5 || 2.1 || 24.3
▲{{S-end}}
==Awards and honors==
| |||