[152][153] The Heat eventually retired his jersey on December 22, 2016, during halftime of a game against his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers. He once missed all 11 of his free throw attempts in a game against the Seattle SuperSonics on December 8, 2000, a record. The Big Shaqtus is a nice attempt, but it just feels a bit too forced. Shaq's ex-ladyNicole "Nikki" "Hoopz". [188] Coach Phil Jackson let O'Neal miss a home game so he could attend graduation. But his actual basketball career gave birth within itself when he joined the Orlando Magic NBA team in 1992. Kobe Jolly Green Bryant 16. Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham recently offered up contradictory explanations when asked about LA's decision-making regarding star center Anthony Davis. I have no idea when or why Shaq gave himself this nickname. I would swap them, but I cant figure this one out. Doctor Shaq: This nickname was invented in 2005 as a way to dis Andrew Bynum, Shaq's "replacement" on the Lakers. This is a nickname paying homage to former NBA center Wilt Chamberlain and is considered to be Shaq's favorite nickname so far. They formed one of the league's top duos and helped Orlando to a 5725 record and the Atlantic Division crown. O'Neal played well in his first Finals appearance, averaging 28 points on 59.5% shooting, 12.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists. Both The Big Cactus and our next entry come from Shaqs late-career foray around the league. I'm an unorthodox type of guy, a funny guyat least I think I'm funny. It is important to understand the context behind the occasion, what nickname Shaq was given, and how . In 1993, Shaq put out a rap album that sold over a million copies. Thousands of randomly generated ideas - funny, weird, creative, fancy, badass and more! He accomplished more than most NBA players can dream of in his 19-year career with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics. If you were a headline writer would you rather call him Superman or the Big Aristotle? This one is kind of funny but my inability to pronounce it quickly has it ranked lower than it probably should have ranked. Upon O'Neal's return, Van Gundy resigned, citing family reasons, and Pat Riley assumed head coach responsibilities. 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. Whether or not Sir Charles is still over 300 pounds determines how effective the nickname is as a joke, but it did still get a laugh out of the rest of the crew. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. [211], O'Neal was featured on the covers of video games NBA Live 96, NBA 2K6, NBA 2K7, NBA Showtime: NBA on NBC, NBA Hoopz, and NBA Inside Drive 2004. [57] He opted against a more involved surgery to return quicker. [247], In April 2016, O'Neal participated in his first-ever match, when he was a surprise celebrity entry in the Andr the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32. Upon his release, he did not resume a place in O'Neal's life and instead agreed to relinquish his parental rights to O'Neal's Jamaican stepfather, Phillip Arthur Harrison, a career Army sergeant. Shaqir O'Neal is next, and the Class of 2021 baller was another national prospect. Some of his other nicknames are: "Shaq Diesel" "The Big Aristotle" "Superman (before Dwight Howard)" "Shaq-Fu" "The Big Agave" "The Big Shaqtus . Shaq always had unique interests and was a rapper with lyrics that always answered his real-life stories. In the 200607 season O'Neal reached 25,000 career points, becoming the 14th player in NBA history to accomplish that milestone. I hate this nickname. O'Neal reportedly wanted a role in X2 (2003), the second installment of the X-Men film series, but was ignored by the filmmakers. Far too often they are boring and predictable. It's probably the only one ever displayed in a game by an NBA center. He did not want to rush a decision with his career potentially at risk. It is derived from the Arabic name Shakil. Buy: $99.00. The Diesel O'Neal made comments indicating that he felt the team's decisions were centered on a desire to appease Bryant to the exclusion of all other concerns, and O'Neal promptly demanded a trade. I'm actually on a team again." 10. It starts with c and ends with t." O'Neal meant "cheat" in reference to the alleged flopping of Kings' center Vlade Divac. "[45][46] The Lakers won 56 games during the 199697 season. But he doesnt seem like someone hanging out with an academic crowd, either. On Tuesday night, though, it was O'Neal handing out a new tagline for Kings center Domantas Sabonis' dominance in the paint -- "Lithuanian Lasagna." It took the place of O'Neal's normal "barbecue chicken" catch phrase for when centers dominate down low. held on to win game 6 with O'Neal scoring 28 points with 16 rebounds and 5 blocks to help Miami reach their first-ever NBA Finals. [269], O'Neal is an investor for esports team NRG Esports. which means Last Center Left. [157][158], During the 2000 Screen Actors Guild strike, O'Neal performed in a commercial for Disney. [253][254] After weeks of discussion, the match was cancelled. The nickname, like Shaq playing basketball, is simply outstanding. He appeared in cameo roles in the films Freddy Got Fingered, Jack and Jill and Scary Movie 4. In December 2010, Shaq became The Big Conductor. And they go a little something like thishit it: "I'm a horse. Three letters as your nickname. Shaq: . The quip inspired countless citations and references by announcers during those playoffs, though Dampier himself offered little response to the insult. Show more Loading comments. But it's cool", said O'Neal. O'Neal is also an electronic music producer, and touring DJ, known as DIESEL. He even dished out some of the most lasting nicknames to his fellow superstars, like Paul "The Truth" Pierce, Dwyane "Flash" Wade and Tim "The Big Fundamental" Duncan, but O'Neal always saved plenty for himself. Okay but a boring name. Remove the rest of them and get to the next step. "[303], O'Neal married Shaunie Nelson on December 26, 2002. scream trumpet players; boca raton real estate 55 and over; beau jo's cauliflower crust nutrition facts Menu Toggle. Here are some examples of short and simple nicknames for Shaq: Now that youve selected a few nicknames for Shaq ideas, its time to gather some feedback. 9. Below I have ranked all 34 from best to worst. Wilt Chamberneezy O'Neal appeared in the 311 music video for the hit single "You Wouldn't Believe" in 2001, in P. Diddy's video for "Bad Boy for Life", the video for Aaron Carter's "That's How I Beat Shaq", the video for Owl City's "Vanilla Twilight" and the video for Maroon 5's "Don't Wanna Know". In 1999, prior to the 19992000 season, the Lakers hired Phil Jackson as head coach, and the team's fortunes soon changed. "[109] O'Neal averaged career lows in almost every major statistical category during the 200910 season, taking on a much less significant role than in previous years. After helping the Lakers capture back-to-back-to-back titles, ONeal considered himself the Most Dominant Ever. He definitely had an argument at the time, as he had been named NBA Finals MVP for each year of the threepeat and had just averaged 36.3 points in a sweep over New Jersey. As a bigtime Boston Celtics fan, I really ought to have ranked this one higher. The Big Aristotle is a nickname he gave himself as a reference to the consistent greatness that won him the 2000 MVP award. Aside frombeing seen with someglorified hood rats, he's done well in life,but he'llcontinue to be associated withthat uglywordrat. The degree was not honorary but a real doctorate in education. [133] His national team career began in the 1994 FIBA World Championship in which he was named MVP of the Tournament. [128][129], On June 1, 2011, O'Neal announced his retirement via social media. Osama Bin Laden was no joke. 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. What has been your favorite Shaq nickname so far? Shaq symbolizes himself with Agave, a cactus family plant. "[98] O'Neal responded, "Flopping is playing like that your whole career. The Inside the NBA crew enjoy joking about each other and players in the NBA, which has been a catalyst for many moments of entertaining television over the years. In the summer of 2005, when asked about Bryant, he responded, "I'm sorry, who?" If you havent noticed, this website is called SportsNostalgiaHQ. Names, nicknames and username ideas for shaq. Please scroll down for his favorite superhero nickname. O'Neal also started DJing in the 1980s at LSU. [294] In 2017, a trial court ruled that Darling had not filed the lawsuit "in good faith," and that the accusations made by Darling occurred after he had attempted to extort$12,000,000 from ONeal in return for thousands of stolen emails and electronic files. [34] He was voted into the All-Star game and also made the All-NBA 3rd Team. Though not exactly a world-shaping philosopher, Shaq did graduate with a bachelors degree from LSU that same year and, in 2005, added an MBA from the University of Phoenix to his educational accomplishments. t has nothing to do with the fact that I am a huge Celtics fan , Manny Pacquiao is one of the greatest boxers. Just ask the ladies. [219][220] O'Neal had a 2005 reality series on ESPN, Shaquille,[221] and hosted a series called Shaq's Big Challenge on ABC. [285], In 2021, O'Neal, among other high-profile athletes and celebrities, was a paid spokesperson for FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange. You'll see what I mean. [33] O'Neal improved his scoring average to 29.4 points (second in the league to David Robinson) while leading the NBA in field goal percentage at 60%. We succeeded in casting him after a lot of effort. Much like when Shaq and Chuck joked about one another, Brandon Ingram took the joke in stride and laughed off the comment. Shaq: Man of Many Nicknames Joey Ramirez September 8, 2016 4:25 PM PDT When it comes to aliases, nobody can touch Shaquille O'Neal. Your privacy is important to us. the name of one of the worst video games in history. Shaq has a Superman tattoo on his right arm and has long used the nickname Superman as part of his branding. I am going to say Shaq called himself this because of his great quotes. Have I mentioned my general disdain for The Big X formula for Shaqs nicknames? In fact, many modern-day players are on good terms with him. Im in the protection business. Thus the name: Witness Protection. I needed to learn the secrets". When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. [333], In 2016, O'Neal purchased a 14.3-acre, two-house compound in McDonough, Georgia for $1.15 million. After that came the Diesel. Talk to you soon." Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (born March 6, 1972), often nicknamed "Shaq", is an American former professional basketball player, actor, and rapper who is currently a sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA on TNT along with Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith as of January 2012. As I have mentioned, I am suspicious of the Big X as a formula for Shaqs nicknames. I couldnt name another ballet dancer if my life depended on it! [23] His 791 rebounds during the 1989 season remains a state record for a player in any classification. ", "All-Time #NBArank: Shaq comes in at No. [36] O'Neal had a power struggle while playing under Hill. Shaq Diesel. [119] O'Neal missed games throughout the season due to an assortment of ailments to his right leg[120] including knee,[121] calf,[122] hip,[123] and Achilles injuries. Credit Solution Experts Incorporated offers quality business credit building services, which includes an easy step-by-step system designed for helping clients build their business credit effortlessly. They then defeated the Chicago Bulls in the conference semifinals. On June 3, 2011, O'Neal held a press conference at his home in Orlando to officially announce his retirement.[132]. And the only thing that can kill Superman is Kryptonite. He ranks 8th all-time in points scored, 6th in field goals, 15th in rebounds, and 8th in blocks. The Prophecy 21. [268], In 2018, O'Neal created the combination music festival, circus and carnival, Shaq's Fun House, in partnership with Medium Rare, which is held annually. After being named NBA MVP in 2000, ONeal decided to celebrate by unveiling his latest nickname. That's all. O'Neal began training in mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2000. [321], In June 2005 when Hall of Fame center George Mikan died, O'Neal, who considered Mikan to be a major influence, extended an offer to his family to pay all of the funeral expenses, which they accepted.[322]. Checkout the latest stats for Shaquille Leonard. [47] 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. It stands for Most Dominant Ever. The Big Agave is boring but at least unique. This natural big person and Kobe Bryant had an athletic dislike, but later, in 2013, they started a big and little brother respect and affection towards each other. I like the fact that this nickname has an original structure. [269] O'Neal refused to endorse Wheaties cereal because he preferred Frosted Flakes. Shaq's nicknames became one of the signature traits of his personality in the league. [295], In April 2014, O'Neal posted a photo on Instagram that showed himself mocking Jahmel Binion who suffers from Ectodermal dysplasia. Sounds like I should say "bless you," but the Diesel's wealthhis cakeis nothing to sneeze at. On December 8, 2005, he was sworn in, but elected for a private ceremony to avoid distracting attention from the other officers. In September 2016, O'Neal said: "When I was in Cleveland, we were in first place. How many sacks does Shaq Lawson have? NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, the No. Shaquille O'Neal is one of the best to ever do it. [201] Shortly thereafter, in Miami, O'Neal witnessed a hate crime (assaulting a man while calling out homophobic slurs) and called Miami-Dade police, describing the suspect and helping police, over his cell phone, track the offender. Miami advanced to face New Jersey, who won a surprising game 1 victory before the Heat won four straight to assure a rematch with Detroit. Nicknames play a huge role in how we interact with others. At the beginning of the 200304 season, O'Neal wanted a contract extension with a pay raise on his remaining three years for $30million. 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. With another NBA postseason underway, there are likely to be a few more gems coming over the next few weeks. Shaquille O'Neal is the only Magic player to win four straight months pic.twitter.com . O'Neal was a capable defender, named three times to the All-NBA Second Defensive Team. His achievement made him choose a lot of nicknames for himself. Tell him howhis cake tastesladies. I feel the same way about 32 and 33 on this list. The corrective options ranged from reconstructive surgery on the toe to rehabilitation exercises with more shoe inserts and anti-inflammation medication. The Celtics were 3310 in games Perkins had missed during the year due to injury,[120] and they were 193 in games that O'Neal played over 20minutes. He has a Superman logo tattoo on his arm and many of his cars also have Superman emblems on them. The popular basketball player Shaquille O'Neal has made the name known and popular amongst people from around the world. Charles Barkley's comments can be seen as a joke about Zion Williamson's weight, Brandon Ingram's skinniness, or both because the two teammates are physically built differently. @SHAQ's first appearance on AEW was comedy Rolling on the floor laughing *NSFW*", "Brandi Rhodes throws water, swears at Shaq on AEW Dynamite", "Shaq will wrestle in mixed tag match on 'AEW Dynamite', "Watch: Shaq goes through tables, wins in mixed tag-team match on AEW", "Shaquille O'Neal on AEW: Shaq goes through a table and picks up a win in his All Elite Wrestling debut", "Shaquille O'Neal, the king of franchises: 155 burger joints, 40 gyms and a $400 million fortune", "Shaq Attacks IPO Access, Invests in Loyal3", "Shaq: I can help homeowners fight off foreclosure", "Star Comes Home to Build in Newark Shaquille O'Neal in Real Estate Development Partnership", "Shaq comes back to Newark to break ground for city's first high-rise apartment in more than 50 years", "Booker, Shaquille O'Neal and other dignitaries break ground on new high-rise apartments", "NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY: Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit Program: Approved Projects", "Shaquille O'Neal buys a stake in the Sacramento Kings", "Shaquille O'Neal officially sells his stake in Sacramento Kings, walks away from 'our great partnership', "Shaq, A-Rod, Rollins invest in esports team", "ELEAGUE have brought back Shaq's memorable acting skills", "Shaquille O'Neal buys Krispy Kreme store", "Shaq's Fun House: A Super-Size Super Bowl Party With Long-Term Ambitions", "Meet the L.A. company behind Shaq's Fun House Super Bowl party", "Shaquille O'Neal on Crypto Craze and Bringing Shaq's Fun House to L.A. on Super Bowl Weekend", "Shaq is joining Papa John's board of directors", "Tom Brady is sued in connection with FTX collapse", "Tom Brady pushed crypto to his fans. These are the ones that I know: Paul Pierce: The Truth Dwayne Wade: The Flash Tim Duncan: Big Fundamental Kawhi Leonard: Sugar K Leonard Robin Lopez: Barbeque Chicken Javale McGee: Tragic Bronson Dorell Wright: Dorell Wrong Erick Dampier: Erica Dampier Yao Ming: Ching Chong Shaq is really his nickname in an official sense, but The Big Aristotle is his best nickname. 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. Buy: $59.95. He had first met Tigers coach Dale Brown years earlier in Europe when O'Neal's stepfather was stationed on a U.S. Army base at Wildflecken, West Germany. That opened the door for many more to come. The 1st Golden Age came when Wilt Chamberlain regularly faced off with Bill Russell. He is now a sports analyst on a television program 'Inside the NBA'. 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?). Featuring A Tribe Called Quest member Phife Dawg, the record went platinum. O'Neal is a man who has a lot of cakecheddar, cash flow, greenbacks, moneyto spendduring hisretirement, and he'll have a lot of time to play and get more. After four years with the Magic, O'Neal signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers. was the next nickname he gave himself, standing for Most Dominant Ever. Superman -- Clark Kent and Shaq. Charles Barkley has been the recipient of many nicknames during his career as a basketball player and an analyst, such as Sir Charles, Chuck, and the Round Mound of Rebound. After leaving early to enter the draft, Shaq boogied back to LSU and graduatedcalling himself "The Big Aristotle." Shaquille O'Neal had at least 34 nicknames and he gave himself most of them. [277] In January 2022, O'Neal sold his stake in the Kings. O'Neal was upbeat in a post-game press conference, stating: "I will take the blame for this loss because I wasn't in tune with the guys [] But give me four or five days to really get in tune and I'll get it. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon. Tap down to view some of his self-name nicknames: https://www.cnbc.com/opt-in-check/?pub_referrer=%2Fid%2F23253879, https://nolimitjumper.com/2019/11/26/shaquille-oneal-the-nickname-mvp/, https://bleacherreport.com/articles/720325-shaquille-oneal-the-top-10-nicknames-belonging-to-the-nbas-former-big-man, https://www.sportscasting.com/shaquille-oneal-honored-his-own-greatness-with-an-inaccurate-quote-and-a-weird-nickname/, https://fadeawayworld.net/nba/shaquille-oneal-vs-wilt-chamberlain-comparison-who-is-the-most-dominant-nba-player-of-all-time, https://www.theburningofrome.com/advices/why-is-shaq-called-diesel/. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. [79], In the Finals, the Heat were underdogs against the Dallas Mavericks led by Dirk Nowitzki, and the Mavericks won the first two games at home in dominating fashion. [10] O'Neal again missed games due to injuries, and the Heat had a 15game losing streak. 1. "[71], On July 14, 2004, O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat for Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, and a future first-round draft choice (the Lakers used the draft choice to select Jordan Farmar in the 2006 draft). Shaq is Shaquille ONeals actual nickname, so you would think it would rank higher on this list. The Cobra 15. In addition, he became the spokesperson for the company as part of the three-year contract. That works. [179] His 1993 debut album, Shaq Diesel, received platinum certification from the RIAA. 32", "LSU Basketball Practice Facility LSUsports.net The Official Web Site of LSU Tigers Athletics", "College triple-double header: Kyle Collinsworth versus Shaquille O'Neal", "Michael Carter-Williams Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week", "199495 Season THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE ORLANDO MAGIC", "Poof! ONeal played in Phoenix from 2007-2009, his sixteenth and seventeenth years in the league. 4. What are all the nicknames Shaq has given to NBA players? If youre too young, you may not know of Mayor McCheese.