Shaq Through the Years: Celebrating the Big 5-0

As The Diesel turns 50 on March 6, SI looks back at his Hall of Fame career. 

Playing under the tutelage of coach Dale Brown at LSU, Shaquille O'Neal became a two-time All-American, two-time SEC Player of the Year and the AP College Player of the Year in 1991. 

Shaq played three seasons at LSU, averaging 21.6 PPG, 13.5 RPG and 4.6 BPG. In 1992, the Orlando Magic made him the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

Shaq won Rookie of the Year in 1993 and led Orlando to its first playoff appearance in franchise history a year later in ’94.

Shaq and Penny Hardaway took the league by storm in 1995, advancing to the NBA Finals—but losing to the Rockets, 4–0—in their second season together in Orlando. 

After four seasons in Orlando, Shaq shook up the league by signing with the Lakers as a free agent in 1996.

Shaq followed in the footsteps of Lakers legends George Mikan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar—big men who led the franchise to multiple championships.

Left off the Dream Team in 1992, O’Neal won gold as part of Team USA men's basketball team in the summer of ’96 in Atlanta.

Shaq’s larger-than-life personality made him stand out on and off the court in L.A.

In 2000, Shaq helped the Lakers overcome a 3–1 deficit to beat the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference finals en route to his first NBA title.

Against the Pacers in the 2000 NBA Finals, O’Neal led the Lakers to their first championship in 12 years and earned Finals MVP, averaging 38 points, 16 rebounds and two blocks in six games.

Two of the best big men of their era, Shaq and San Antonio’s Tim Duncan had many memorable battles in the West.

Shaq and the Lakers repeated as champions in 2001, beating the 76ers in five games to punctuate a dominant postseason run. Shaq took home Finals MVP honors again, averaging 33 points, 15.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists.

Shaq and Kobe had their ups and downs, but ultimately won three rings together as one of the best duos in NBA history.

Shaq and the Lakers eliminated the Kings in Game 7 of the 2002 Western Conference finals to advance to their third straight Finals, where they would beat the New Jersey Nets.

Shaq’s physical style of play changed the game of basketball.

Shaq never missed an opportunity to share some laughs with teammates.  

After a bitter divorce in L.A., Shaq joined Dwyane Wade and the Heat via a 2004 trade. He promised Heat fans a championship and delivered in less than two years. 

O’Neal helped lead Miami to its first NBA title, averaging a double double with 13.7 points and 10.2 rebounds during the 2006 Finals. It was O’Neal’s fourth and final championship.

O’Neal earned 15 All-Star appearances over 19 seasons and won three All-Star Game MVPs, including a co-MVP award that he shared with Kobe Bryant at the 2009 All-Star Game in Phoenix. 

O’Neal teamed up with LeBron James in Cleveland during the 2009-10 season after spending one season with the Suns. 

Following a season with the Celtics, Shaq retired in 2011 and became a TV analyst for TNT.

Shaq entered the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 as one of the most dominant forces the NBA has ever seen.