Shaquille O'Neal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Shaquille O'Neal

O'Neal in 2023
Personal information
Born	(1972-03-06) March 6, 1972 (age 53) Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
High school	Fulda American (Fulda, Germany) Robert G. Cole (San Antonio, Texas)
Listed height	7 ft 1 in
Listed weight	325 lb
Career information
College	LSU (1989–1992)
NBA Draft	1992 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
Selected by the Orlando Magic
Pro career	1992–2011
Career history
1992–1996	Orlando Magic
1996–2004	Los Angeles Lakers
2004–2008	Miami Heat
2008–2009	Phoenix Suns
2009–2010	Cleveland Cavaliers
2010–2011	Boston Celtics
Career highlights and awards
4× NBA champion (2000–2002, 2006) 3× NBA Finals MVP (2000–2002) NBA Most Valuable Player (2000) 15× NBA All-Star (1993–1998, 2000–2007, 2009) 3× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2000, 2004, 2009) 8× All-NBA First Team (1998, 2000–2006) 2× All-NBA Second Team (1995, 1999) 4× All-NBA Third Team (1994, 1996, 1997, 2009) 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2000, 2001, 2003) NBA Rookie of the Year (1993) NBA All-Rookie First Team (1993) 2× NBA scoring champion (1995, 2000) NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th) No. 34 retired by Los Angeles Lakers No. 32 retired by Miami Heat No. 32 retired by Orlando Magic Associated Press Player of the Year (1991) UPI Player of the Year (1991) Adolph Rupp Trophy (1991) 2× Consensus first-team All-American (1991, 1992) NCAA rebounding leader (1991) NCAA blocks leader (1992) 2× SEC Male Athlete of the Year (1991, 1992) 2× SEC Player of the Year (1991, 1992) 3× First-team All-SEC (1990, 1991, 1992) No. 33 retired by LSU Tigers FIBA World Championship MVP (1994) USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (1994) McDonald's All-American Game Co-MVP (1989) First-team Parade All-American (1989) Texas Mr. Basketball (1989)
Career statistics
Points	28,596 (23.7 ppg)
Rebounds	13,099 (10.9 rpg)
Blocks	2,732 (2.3 bpg)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1996 Atlanta Team competition FIBA World Championship Gold 1994 Toronto Team competition

Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (born March 6, 1972), often called Shaq, is a famous American former professional basketball player. He is also a sports analyst on TV. Standing at 7 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 325 pounds, he played as a center for 19 years in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Shaq won four NBA championships and is considered one of the greatest basketball players ever.

Shaq played college basketball for the LSU Tigers. The Orlando Magic chose him as the very first pick in the 1992 NBA draft. He quickly became a top player, winning NBA Rookie of the Year in his first season. He led the Magic to the 1995 NBA Finals. After four years, Shaq joined the Los Angeles Lakers. There, he helped the team win three championships in a row (2000, 2001, and 2002). Later, he played for the Miami Heat and won another NBA championship in 2006. He also played for the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics before he retired.

Shaq earned many awards during his career. These include the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award in 2000 and the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 1993. He was chosen for the All-Star Game 15 times and won the Finals MVP award three times. He is one of only three players to win NBA MVP, All-Star Game MVP, and Finals MVP in the same year (2000). Shaq is among the top players in NBA history for points, rebounds, and blocks. He was honored as one of the league's greatest players on both the NBA 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams.

Beyond basketball, Shaq is also a rapper and a DJ known as Diesel. He has released several albums, with his first two, Shaq Diesel and Shaq Fu: Da Return, becoming very popular. He has appeared in many movies and TV shows, including his own reality shows. Shaq also hosts The Big Podcast with Shaq. He was an owner of the Sacramento Kings basketball team for a time.

Shaquille's Early Life and Growing Up

Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal was born on March 6, 1972, in Newark, New Jersey. His mother was Lucille O'Neal, and his stepfather was Phillip Arthur Harrison, an Army sergeant. Shaquille's biological father was not part of his early life. He later connected with his biological father in 2016.

Shaquille came from a tall family. His mother was 6 feet 2 inches tall. By age 13, Shaquille was already 6 feet 6 inches tall. He spent time at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Newark. He said it was a safe place to play basketball and kept him busy. Because his stepfather was in the military, his family moved often. They lived in military bases in Germany and Texas.

After living in Germany, Shaquille's family settled in San Antonio, Texas. By age 16, he had grown to 6 feet 10 inches. He started playing basketball at Robert G. Cole High School. He led his team to an amazing 68–1 record over two years. His team won the state championship in his senior year. His high school retired his jersey number 33 in 2014.

Shaquille's College Basketball Journey

After high school in 1989, Shaquille went to Louisiana State University (LSU) to study business. He played basketball for the LSU Tigers. While at LSU, he was named an All-American twice. He also won the SEC Player of the Year award two times. In 1991, he received the Adolph Rupp Trophy as the best college basketball player in the NCAA.

Shaquille left LSU early to start his NBA career. However, he kept studying even after becoming a professional player. He was later honored in the LSU Hall of Fame. There is a large bronze statue of Shaquille in front of the LSU Basketball Practice Facility.

Shaquille's Professional Basketball Career

Orlando Magic (1992–1996)

Becoming a Rookie Star

The Orlando Magic picked Shaquille as the first player in the 1992 NBA draft. He wore jersey number 32. In his first season, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. He averaged 23.4 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game. He was the first rookie since Michael Jordan to start in the All-Star Game. The Magic improved a lot, winning 20 more games than the year before.

First Playoff Games and Scoring Title

In his second season (1993–1994), Shaquille led the NBA in field goal percentage. He also scored 29.4 points per game, which was second in the league. He achieved his first triple-double with 24 points, 28 rebounds, and 15 blocks. With new teammate Penny Hardaway, the Magic made the playoffs for the first time.

In his third season (1994–1995), Shaquille led the NBA in scoring with 29.3 points per game. He finished second in MVP voting. The Magic reached the NBA Finals for the first time in their history. They faced the Houston Rockets but lost in four games.

Shaquille was injured for part of the 1995–1996 season. He still played well, averaging 26.6 points and 11 rebounds. The Magic reached the Eastern Conference finals but lost to the Chicago Bulls.

Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2004)

Joining the Lakers and Building a Team

After the 1996 season, Shaquille joined the Los Angeles Lakers. He signed a big seven-year contract. He also won a gold medal with the United States Olympic basketball team in Atlanta. With the Lakers, he wore jersey number 34.

In his first season with the Lakers (1996–1997), Shaquille averaged 26.2 points and 12.5 rebounds. The Lakers made the playoffs but were eliminated in the second round. The next season, he led the league in field goal percentage. The Lakers reached the second round of the playoffs again.

With Shaquille and young star Kobe Bryant, the Lakers had high hopes. In the 1998–1999 season, the team faced some changes. They made the playoffs but were swept by the San Antonio Spurs.

MVP and Championship Years

Before the 1999–2000 season, the Lakers hired Phil Jackson as head coach. This changed the team's luck. Shaquille had an amazing season, scoring a career-high 61 points on his 28th birthday. He was named the regular season MVP. He also won the scoring title.

Shaquille and Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to three championships in a row (2000, 2001, and 2002). Shaquille was named the MVP of the NBA Finals all three times. He had the highest scoring average for a center in NBA Finals history.

Injuries and Departure

Shaquille missed the start of the 2002–2003 season due to toe surgery. The Lakers struggled and did not reach the Finals that year. For the 2003–2004 season, the Lakers added stars Karl Malone and Gary Payton. Shaquille helped convince them to join.

There were growing tensions between Shaquille and Kobe Bryant. Shaquille also wanted a contract extension with a pay raise. After the Lakers lost in the 2004 NBA Finals, Shaquille asked for a trade. He felt the team's decisions favored Bryant.

Miami Heat (2004–2008)

Joining the Heat and MVP Runner-up

On July 14, 2004, Shaquille was traded to the Miami Heat. He wore number 32 again, like he did with the Magic. He promised fans he would bring a championship to Miami. He was excited to play with rising star Dwyane Wade, whom he nicknamed "Flash."

The Heat had a great season in 2004–2005, winning 59 games. Shaquille played in 73 games, his most since 2001. He averaged 22.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks. He was an All-Star and made the All-NBA 1st Team. He narrowly lost the MVP Award to Steve Nash. The Heat reached the Eastern Conference finals but lost in a close Game 7.

Winning a Fourth Championship

In the 2005–2006 season, Shaquille injured his right ankle and missed 18 games. Coach Pat Riley took over and managed Shaquille's playing time. This helped Shaquille stay healthy for the playoffs. He recorded his second career triple-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.

In the 2006 NBA Playoffs, the Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls and the New Jersey Nets. They then beat the Detroit Pistons to reach their first-ever NBA Finals. In the Finals, the Heat faced the Dallas Mavericks. Led by Dwyane Wade and a strong team effort, the Heat won the series in six games. This gave Shaquille his fourth NBA championship.

Injuries and Disagreements

In the 2006–2007 season, Shaquille missed 35 games due to a left knee injury. The Heat struggled without him. When he returned, Dwyane Wade also got injured. Shaquille helped keep the team in the playoff race. The Heat made the playoffs but were swept by the Bulls in the first round. This was the first time in 13 years Shaquille did not advance past the first round.

The 2007–2008 season started slowly for Shaquille. His scoring, rebounds, and blocks were at career lows. He missed games due to injuries. Shaquille had disagreements with coach Pat Riley. This led to him being traded.

Phoenix Suns (2008–2009)

The Phoenix Suns acquired Shaquille in February 2008. He played 28 regular season games, averaging 12.9 points and 10.6 rebounds. The Suns made the playoffs but were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs.

Shaquille enjoyed playing for the Suns. He felt the team's training staff helped him stay healthy. In the 2008–2009 season, he played well, averaging 18 points and 9 rebounds. He returned to the All-Star Game and was named co-MVP with Kobe Bryant. On February 27, 2009, he scored 45 points against the Toronto Raptors. The Suns did not make the playoffs that year.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2009–2010)

On June 25, 2009, Shaquille was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He said his goal was to "Win a Ring for the King," referring to LeBron James. Shaquille saw James as the team's leader. In February 2010, Shaquille injured his right thumb and needed surgery. He returned for the playoffs.

The Cavaliers won their first-round playoff series. However, they lost to the Boston Celtics in the second round. Shaquille believed that if he had been healthy, they would have won a championship that year.

Boston Celtics (2010–2011)

On August 4, 2010, the Boston Celtics signed Shaquille for two years. He chose jersey number 36. Shaquille missed many games during the season due to various leg injuries. He returned for the second round of the playoffs but played limited minutes. The Celtics were eliminated by the Miami Heat.

On June 1, 2011, Shaquille announced his retirement from basketball through social media. He held a press conference two days later to officially confirm his decision.

Shaquille's National Team Career

Shaquille's national team career began in 1994. He was named MVP of the 1994 FIBA World Championship. He led the "Dream Team II" to a gold medal with a perfect 8–0 record. He averaged 18 points and 8.5 rebounds in the tournament.

He was also part of the "Dream Team III" for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. The team won another gold medal with an 8–0 record. After 1996, Shaquille chose not to play in more international competitions.

Shaquille's Player Profile

Shaquille O'Neal is widely considered one of the greatest and most dominant centers in basketball history. He was known for his powerful presence near the basket. He averaged 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game in his career.

At 7 feet 1 inch tall and 330 pounds, his large size gave him a big advantage. Early in his career, his powerful dunks sometimes broke the steel backboard supports. This led the league to make backboards stronger.

Shaquille's "drop step" move was a very effective way to score. He would post up a defender, turn, and use his strength to dunk the ball. He also used a right-handed jump hook shot. His ability to dunk helped him achieve a career field goal accuracy of 58.2%. He led the NBA in field goal percentage 10 times, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record.

Opposing teams often fouled Shaquille on purpose. This tactic, called "Hack-a-Shaq," aimed to send him to the free-throw line. His main weakness was his free throw shooting, with a career average of 52.7%. He once missed all 11 of his free throw attempts in a game.

Shaquille was also a good defender. He was named to the All-NBA Second Defensive Team three times. His presence near the basket made it hard for opponents to score. He averaged 2.3 blocked shots per game.

The Los Angeles Lakers retired his No. 34 jersey in 2013. The Miami Heat retired his No. 32 jersey in 2016. In 2024, the Orlando Magic also retired his No. 32 jersey. He is one of only three players to have his number retired by three NBA teams.

Shaquille Off the Court

Media Personality

Shaquille has many nicknames, like "Shaq," "The Diesel," and "Superman." He is known for his humor and insights during interviews. He was a favorite of the press.

He appeared on Saturday Night Live and hosted Shaq's Big Challenge. This reality show helped Florida kids lose weight. He also starred in Shaq Vs., where he competed against other athletes.

Shaquille and Kobe Bryant had disagreements during their time with the Lakers. Later, they made peace with each other.

Since 2011, Shaquille has been a popular analyst for NBA basketball games on TNT. He works alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley. He also co-hosts the game show Lucky 13.

Music Career

Shaquille O'Neal
O'Neal DJing at the All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., in July 2018
Background information
Also known as	DJ Diesel
Genres	Hip hop, electronic dance music
Occupation(s)	Rapper, DJ
Years active	1993–2001; 2017–present
Labels	Jive, Interscope, A&M, Trauma, Monstercat
Associated acts	Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz, DJ Kayslay, Nghtmre, Lil Jon

Shaquille started making rap music in 1993. He released five studio albums. His first album, Shaq Diesel, became very popular and sold over a million copies. His second album, Shaq Fu: Da Return, also sold well.

He was a guest rapper on Michael Jackson's 1995 album HIStory. He also contributed songs to the Kazaam movie soundtrack.

Shaquille also started DJing in the 1980s. He produces electronic dance music and tours as a DJ under the name DJ Diesel. His debut album, Gorilla Warfare, was released in 2023.

Education

Shaquille left LSU early for the NBA. However, he promised his mother he would finish his degree. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from LSU in 2000. He even missed a home game to attend his graduation.

He later earned an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in 2005. He also received his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree from Barry University in 2012. He studied directing and cinematography at the New York Film Academy.

Law Enforcement

Shaquille has a strong interest in police work. He became a reserve officer with the Los Angeles Port Police. In 2005, he was sworn in as a Miami Beach reserve officer. He helped police catch criminals in Miami.

In 2015, Shaquille became a reserve officer for Doral, Florida's police force. In 2016, he was sworn in as a sheriff's deputy in Jonesboro, Georgia. He holds the record for the tallest sheriff's deputy in the county.

Acting

Shaquille has appeared in many films and TV shows. He starred in movies like Blue Chips and Kazaam. He also played the superhero John Henry Irons in the 1997 film Steel.

He has made cameo appearances in films like Scary Movie 4 and Grown Ups 2. He also voiced animated versions of himself in shows like Static Shock and The Lego Movie.

Video Games

Shaquille has been featured on the covers of many video games, including NBA Live 96 and NBA 2K6. He also starred in his own fighting game, Shaq Fu, and its sequel, Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn. In 2024, he collaborated with Fortnite to appear as player skins.

Advertising

Shaquille often appears in television commercials. He has been in ads for Pepsi, Reebok, Gold Bond, Papa John's, and many other companies. He is also the global spokesperson for Krispy Kreme.

Mixed Martial Arts

Shaquille started training in mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2000. He trained in boxing, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, and wrestling. He has expressed interest in fighting in MMA.

Professional Wrestling

Shaquille is a big fan of professional wrestling. He has made several appearances at wrestling events. In 1994, he appeared in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). In 2009, he was a guest host for World Wrestling Entertainment's Monday Night Raw. He even had a physical interaction with wrestler Big Show.

In 2016, Shaquille participated in his first wrestling match at WrestleMania 32. He was a surprise entry in the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. In 2021, he teamed with Jade Cargill in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and won a match.

Business Ventures

As of 2022, Shaquille was among the wealthiest NBA players. He has been an investor in companies like Google. He also invests in real estate, developing projects in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey.

Shaquille is a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings professional basketball team. He is also the general manager of Kings Guard Gaming, the Kings' NBA 2K League team. He invests in esports team NRG Esports.

He owns many franchise businesses, including Krispy Kreme, Five Guys, and Auntie Anne's restaurants. He also owns car washes, health clubs, and a movie theater. In 2019, he joined the Papa John's board of directors. Papa John's later introduced the "Shaq-a-Roni" pizza.

In 2018, Shaquille created "Shaq's Fun House," an annual music festival. In 2023, he was named Reebok's president of Basketball. In 2024, he launched a line of gummy candies.

Shaquille's Personal Life

Religion

Shaquille was raised with both Baptist and Muslim teachings. He has said he is a "people person" and respects many faiths.

Marriage and Children

Shaquille married Shaunie Nelson in 2002. They had four children together. Shaquille also adopted Shaunie's son from a previous relationship. He also has a daughter from another relationship. They divorced in 2011.

His son, Shareef, played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins and LSU. His daughter, Me'Arah, signed to play for the Florida Gators in 2023.

Other Interests

Shaquille is a fan of the National Hockey League's New Jersey Devils. He has also shown support for the English football club Northampton Town. He is a fan of the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys.

In 2016, Shaquille bought a large property in McDonough, Georgia, which he named Shaq-Ingham Palace. He has mentored young basketball players, including Chicago Sky player Angel Reese. In 2023, Shaquille purchased his first private jet.

Career statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

NBA

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1992–93	Orlando	81	81	37.9	.562	.000	.592	13.9	1.9	.7	3.5	23.4
1993–94	Orlando	81	81	39.8	.599*	.000	.554	13.2	2.4	.9	2.9	29.3
1994–95	Orlando	79	79	37.0	.583	.000	.533	11.4	2.7	.9	2.4	29.3*
1995–96	Orlando	54	52	36.0	.573	.500	.487	11.0	2.9	.6	2.1	26.6
1996–97	L.A. Lakers	51	51	38.1	.557	.000	.484	12.5	3.1	.9	2.9	26.2
1997–98	L.A. Lakers	60	57	36.3	.584*	—	.527	11.4	2.4	.7	2.4	28.3
1998–99	L.A. Lakers	49	49	34.8	.576*	.000	.540	10.7	2.3	.7	1.7	26.3
1999–00†	L.A. Lakers	79	79	40.0	.574*	.000	.524	13.6	3.8	.5	3.0	29.7*
2000–01†	L.A. Lakers	74	74	39.5	.572*	.000	.513	12.7	3.7	.6	2.8	28.7
2001–02†	L.A. Lakers	67	66	36.1	.579*	.000	.555	10.7	3.0	.6	2.0	27.2
2002–03	L.A. Lakers	67	66	37.8	.574	—	.622	11.1	3.1	.6	2.4	27.5
2003–04	L.A. Lakers	67	67	36.8	.584*	—	.490	11.5	2.9	.5	2.5	21.5
2004–05	Miami	73	73	34.1	.601*	—	.461	10.4	2.7	.5	2.3	22.9
2005–06†	Miami	59	58	30.6	.600*	—	.469	9.2	1.9	.4	1.8	20.0
2006–07	Miami	40	39	28.4	.591	—	.422	7.4	2.0	.2	1.4	17.3
2007–08	Miami	33	33	28.6	.581	—	.494	7.8	1.4	.6	1.6	14.2
2007–08	Phoenix	28	28	28.7	.611	—	.513	10.6	1.7	.5	1.2	12.9
2008–09	Phoenix	75	75	30.0	.609*	.000	.595	8.4	1.7	.6	1.4	17.8
2009–10	Cleveland	53	53	23.4	.566	.000	.496	6.7	1.5	.3	1.2	12.0
2010–11	Boston	37	36	20.3	.667	—	.557	4.8	.7	.4	1.1	9.2
Career		1,207	1,197	34.7	.582	.045	.527	10.9	2.5	.6	2.3	23.7
All-Star		12	9	22.8	.551	.000	.452	8.1	1.4	1.1	1.6	16.8

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1994	Orlando	3	3	42.0	.511	.000	.471	13.3	2.3	.7	3.0	20.7
1995	Orlando	21	21	38.3	.577	.000	.571	11.9	3.3	.9	1.9	25.7
1996	Orlando	12	12	38.3	.606	.000	.393	10.0	4.6	.8	1.3	25.8
1997	L.A. Lakers	9	9	36.2	.514	.000	.610	10.6	3.2	.6	1.9	26.9
1998	L.A. Lakers	13	13	38.5	.612	.000	.503	10.2	2.9	.5	2.6	30.5
1999	L.A. Lakers	8	8	39.4	.510	.000	.466	11.6	2.3	.9	2.9	26.6
2000†	L.A. Lakers	23	23	43.5	.566	.000	.456	15.4	3.1	.6	2.4	30.7
2001†	L.A. Lakers	16	16	42.3	.555	.000	.525	15.4	3.2	.4	2.4	30.4
2002†	L.A. Lakers	19	19	40.8	.529	.000	.649	12.6	2.8	.5	2.5	28.5
2003	L.A. Lakers	12	12	40.1	.535	.000	.621	14.8	3.7	.6	2.8	27.0
2004	L.A. Lakers	22	22	41.7	.593	.000	.429	13.2	2.5	.3	2.8	21.5
2005	Miami	13	13	33.2	.558	.000	.472	7.8	1.9	.4	1.5	19.4
2006†	Miami	23	23	33.0	.612	.000	.374	9.8	1.7	.5	1.5	18.4
2007	Miami	4	4	30.3	.559	.000	.333	8.5	1.3	.3	1.5	18.8
2008	Phoenix	5	5	30.0	.440	.000	.500	9.2	1.0	1.0	2.6	15.2
2010	Cleveland	11	11	22.1	.516	.000	.660	5.5	1.4	.2	1.2	11.5
2011	Boston	2	0	6.0	.500	.000	.000	.0	.5	.5	.0	1.0
Career		216	214	37.5	.563	.000	.504	11.6	2.7	.5	2.1	24.3

College

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1989–90	Louisiana State	32	—	28.2	.573	.000	.556	12.0	1.9	1.2	3.6	13.9
1990–91	Louisiana State	28	—	31.5	.628	.000	.638	14.7	1.6	1.5	5.0	27.6
1991–92	Louisiana State	30	—	32.0	.615	.000	.528	14.0	1.5	1.0	5.2	24.1
Career		90	—	30.5	.610	.000	.575	13.5	1.7	1.2	4.6	21.6

Awards and Honors

NBA

• 4× NBA champion (2000–2002, 2006)
• 3× NBA Finals MVP (2000–2002)
• NBA Most Valuable Player (2000)
• 15× NBA All-Star (1993–1998, 2000–2007, 2009)
• 3× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2000, 2004, 2009)
• 8× All-NBA First Team (1998, 2000–2006)
• 2× All-NBA Second Team (1995, 1999)
• 4× All-NBA Third Team (1994, 1996, 1997, 2009)
• 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2000, 2001, 2003)
• NBA Rookie of the Year (1993)
• NBA All-Rookie First Team (1993)
• 2× NBA scoring champion (1995, 2000)
• 12× NBA Player of the Month
• 20× NBA Player of the Week
• 4× NBA Rookie of the Month
• NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th)
• No. 34 retired by Los Angeles Lakers
• No. 32 retired by Miami Heat
• No. 32 retired by Orlando Magic
• Statue of Shaquille O'Neal outside Crypto.com Arena

USA Basketball

• 1996 Olympic Gold Medal
• 1994 FIBA Basketball World Cup Gold Medal
• 1994 FIBA World Cup MVP
• 1994 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year

NCAA

• 1990–1991 SEC Regular Season Co-Champion
• Associated Press Player of the Year (1991)
• UPI Player of the Year (1991)
• Adolph Rupp Trophy (1991)
• 2× Consensus first-team All-American (1991, 1992)
  • 2× Associated Press first-team All-American (1991, 1992)
  • 2× USBWA first-team All-American (1991, 1992)
  • 2× NABC first-team All-American (1991, 1992)
  • 2× UPI first-team All-American (1991, 1992)
• NCAA rebounding leader (1991)
• NCAA blocks leader (1992)
• 2× SEC Male Athlete of the Year (1991, 1992)
• 2× SEC Player of the Year (1991, 1992)
• 3× First-team All-SEC (1990, 1991, 1992)
• LSU All-Century Team (2009)
• No. 33 retired by LSU Tigers
• Statue of Shaquille O'Neal outside the LSU Basketball Practice Facility

High School

• McDonald's All-American Game Co-MVP (1989)
• First-team Parade All-American (1989)
• Texas Mr. Basketball (1989)

Media

• ESPN American Athlete of the Year (1995)
• 2× Sporting News NBA MVP (2000, 2005)
• Sporting News Rookie of the Year (1993)
• Sporting News NBA 1990s All-Decade Third Team
• Sporting News NBA 2000s All-Decade First Team
• AP NBA 2000s All-Decade First Team
• BET Sportsman of the Year (2005)
• ESPY Awards
  • 2× Best NBA Player (2001, 2002)
  • 1993 Outstanding Performance by a Sports Personality in an Attempt to Break into Show Business – Shaquille O'Neal raps with Fu-Schnickens on The Arsenio Hall Show
• Harold & Carole Pump Foundation – Lifetime Achievement Award (2013)

Sports Emmy Awards

• 2012 – Outstanding Promotional Announcement

Academy Awards

• 2022 – Short Subject Documentary (as an executive producer of The Queen of Basketball)

Halls of Fame

• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame – Class of 2016
• National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame – Class of 2014
• FIBA Hall of Fame – Class of 2017
• Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame – Class of 2013
• LSU Athletic Hall of Fame – Class of 2000
• San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame – Class of 2016

Discography

Studio albums

• Shaq Diesel (1993)
• Shaq Fu: Da Return (1994)
• You Can't Stop the Reign (1996)
• Respect (1998)
• Gorilla Warfare (as Diesel) (2023)

Unreleased albums

• Shaquille O'Neal Presents His Superfriends, Vol. 1 (2001)

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1994	Blue Chips	Neon Boudeaux
1996	Kazaam	Kazaam
1997	Good Burger	Himself
1997	Steel	John Henry Irons / Steel
1998	He Got Game	Himself
2001	The Wash	Norman
2001	Freddy Got Fingered	Himself
2004	After the Sunset
2006	Scary Movie 4
2008	The House Bunny
2011	Jack and Jill
2012	Thunderstruck
2013	Grown Ups 2	Officer Fluzoo
2013	The Smurfs 2	Smooth Smurf	Voice role
2014	The Lego Movie	Himself	Voice role
2014	Blended	Doug
2018	Show Dogs	Karma	Voice role
2018	Uncle Drew	Big Fella
2019	What Men Want	Himself
2020	Hubie Halloween	DJ Aurora

Music videos

Year	Title	Artist(s)	Ref.
2010	"Vanilla Twilight"	Owl City
2018	"My Cloud"	Grabbitz
2021	"Todo de Ti"	Rauw Alejandro

Television credits

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1992	The Arsenio Hall Show	Himself
1996	Arliss		Episode: "A Man of Our Times"
2001	For Your Love		Episode:" The Model Client"
2001	My Wife and Kids		2 Episodes
2001	Jackass		Episode: "The Bed Wetter"
2001	Curb Your Enthusiasm		Episode: "Shaq"
2002	Static Shock		Episode: "Static Shaq"
2002–04	The Parkers		2 Episodes
2003	The Bernie Mac Show		Episode: "Eye of the Tiger"
2004	The Tracy Morgan Show		Episode: "Career Day"
2004	Johnny Bravo		Episode: "Back on Shaq"
2005	Shaquille
2005	Punk'd
2007	American Idol		Episode: "Idol Gives Back"
2009	Shaq Vs.
2009	WWE Raw		Episode: "Raw 844 – July 27, 2009"
2010	Sonny with a Chance		Episode: "A So Random! Halloween Special"
2011	The Cleveland Show		Episode: "A Short Story and a Tall Tale"
2011	Fear Factor		1 episode
2013	Real Husbands of Hollywood		Episode: "Retreat for Couples"
2013, 2017	Jimmy Kimmel Live!		2 Episodes as guest, Guest Host October 30, 2017
2013	Southland	Detective Earl Dayton	Episode: "The Felix Paradox"
2013	Upload with Shaquille O'Neal	Himself
2014	Uncle Grandpa		Episode: "The Perfect Kid"
2015	Highston		Episode: "Pilot"
2015–16	Fresh Off the Boat		2 Episodes
2015	Off to School		Episodes 59–62
2016	Lip Sync Battle		Episode: "Shaquille O'Neal vs. Aisha Tyler"
2016	Pickle and Peanut	90s Adventure Bear	2 Episodes
2017	The Simpsons	Himself	Episode: "Gone Boy"
2018	Drop the Mic		Episode "Shaquille O'Neal vs. Ken Jeong / Jerry Springer vs. Ricki Lake"
2018	Shaq Does Shark Week		Television documentary film
2020	Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar		Episode: "Viva Def Vegas"
2020	Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020		Television special
2020	Home Movie: The Princess Bride	Fezzik	Episode: "Ultimate Suffering"
2020–present	Shaq Life	Himself	Main role
2022	Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers		Documentary series
2024	Lucky 13	Co-host	Game show; also executive producer

Awards and nominations

Year	Nominated work	Category	Result
CableACE Awards
1996	Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal	Children's Special – 7 and Older	Won
Golden Raspberry Awards
1995	Blue Chips	Worst New Star	Nominated
1998	Steel	Worst Actor	Nominated
2015	Blended	Worst Supporting Actor	Nominated

Video game appearances

Year	Title	Voice role	Notes	Ref.
1994	Shaq Fu	Shaq Fei Hung
2018	Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn

Images for kids

• 

  O'Neal holding the championship ball when the NBA champion Miami Heat team visited the White House in February 2007

See also

In Spanish: Shaquille O'Neal para niños

• List of NBA career scoring leaders
• List of NBA career rebounding leaders
• List of NBA career blocks leaders
• List of NBA career turnovers leaders
• List of NBA career personal fouls leaders
• List of NBA career field goal percentage leaders
• List of NBA career free throw scoring leaders
• List of NBA career minutes played leaders
• List of NBA career playoff scoring leaders
• List of NBA career playoff rebounding leaders
• List of NBA career playoff blocks leaders
• List of NBA career playoff turnovers leaders
• List of NBA career playoff free throw scoring leaders
• List of NBA career playoff games played leaders
• List of NBA annual scoring leaders
• List of NBA single-game scoring leaders
• List of NBA single-game blocks leaders
• List of NBA seasons played leaders
• List of NBA rookie single-season scoring leaders
• Highest-paid NBA players by season
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career blocks leaders
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season blocks leaders
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders
• List of NCAA Division I basketball career triple-doubles leaders