Shaq strikes again! O'Neal sends home a dunk so powerful it rips apart the
backboard's support braces, causing the Nets-Magic game at Meadowlands Arena to
be delayed more than 45 minutes. The backboard, stanchion and base all have to
be replaced. "I just went up and dunked and it broke," O'Neal said.
"It really came crashing down. The shot clock hit me in the head. It hurt a
little bit, but not that much. I have a hard head. It could have been serious,
but it
wasn't."
May 6,
1993
Exactly 10 months shy of his 21st birthday, Shaq wins NBA Rookie of the Year
honors (receiving 96 out of a possible 98 votes). He averages 23.4 points per
game -- eighth in the league -- and 13.9 rebounds. The Magic finish the season
with a 41-41 record, a 20-win improvement over the previous year. "I hope I
can get an NBA championship trophy to go along with it," O'Neal says,
"so that when I retire and have children I can tell my son, 'I was bad.'
"
Summer
1993
While in Hawaii, O'Neal gets his now-famous Superman tattoo on his left
arm.
October
1993
Shaq becomes a media conglomerate He releases Shaq Attack, an
autobiography written with Sports Illustrated's Jack McCallum, and his
debut album Shaq Diesel. The rap record goes on to sell 1 million copies
and the single, (I Know I Got) Skillz, debuts on the Billboard Hot
100 chart at No. 74. He also appears on the cover of
GQ.
February
1994
After the tabloid program A Current Affair runs a story on a man named
Joe Toney who claims to be Shaq's biological father, O'Neal makes a confession
to reporters: ''It's true that [Toney] is my biological father, but just because
you bring a child into the world doesn't make you a father. I haven't seen him
in 21 years, and I don't expect to see him in the next 21.'' He also said,
''When my mother needed someone 21 years ago, Phil Harrison was the man. He is
my dad. He's the one who raised me and made me what I am
today.''
February,
1994
Shaq stars in his first feature film, Blue Chips, with Nick Nolte and
then-teammate Anfernee Hardaway. New York Times film critic Janet Maslin
is impressed, saying in her review, "Mr. O'Neal winds up making the most
spectacular play in the film. He also gives a genuinely appealing performance as
the most honest and good-hearted of the new
recruits."
Spring,
1994
O'Neal finishes second in the league in scoring and rebounding, averaging 29.3
and 13.2 per game, respectively. His .599 field goal percentage leads the
NBA.
April 1994
Because of his dominating play at such a young age, O'Neal feels some resentment
from other centers in the league, notably Patrick Ewing and David Robinson. The
Admiral, one of the classier players in the league, fires this salvo after the
two face off in the Alamodome: ''Who is Shaq ... and why should I lose any sleep
over what he thinks? He talks about people being jealous of him, but he has
nothing we
want.''
O'Neal responds: ''You tell David Robinson the next time he plays me, I'll be on
his ass. If there is ever a day David dominates me, it's because he has help. He
would never play me one-on-one ... He needs to stick to churchgoing, and not
trash
talking.''
August,
1994
At the World Basketball Championship in Toronto, Shaq propels the United States
to a gold medal, leading the squad in scoring with 18 points per game. The U.S.
defeats Russia 137-91 in the championship
game.
Spring
1995
Shaq averages 29.3 points per game (to lead the NBA for the season) while
propelling the Magic to the best record (57-25) in the Eastern Conference. In
only its fifth year of existence, Orlando goes all the way to the NBA Finals.
June 4,
1995
With 25 points and 11 rebounds, O'Neal carries the Magic past the Indiana Pacers
105-81 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference
Finals.
June 14,
1995
The Houston Rockets complete a four-game sweep of the Magic as Shaq's hopes for
a title are quickly spoiled. He holds his own against Finals MVP Hakeem Olajuwon
though, averaging 28 points, 12.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists in the
series.
October 24,
1995
In an exhibition game against the Miami Heat, O'Neal is hacked by Matt Geiger
and suffers torn ligaments in his thumb. He misses Orlando's first 22 games of
the regular
season.
December 15,
1995
Shaq returns from his injury, and in his season debut comes off the bench to
play just 24 minutes. Still, he finishes with 26 points and 11 rebounds against
the Utah Jazz. "I'm just a role player," Shaq said before the game.
"I'm going for the Sixth Man
award."
1996
As a member of Dream Team II, O'Neal wins a gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta
Olympics.
Summer,
1996
Continuing to branch out from basketball, Shaq forms his own record label, TWIsM
(The World is Mine)
Records.
July,
1996
Kazaam, O'Neal's second feature film, is released. Film critic Gene
Siskel isn't impressed. "Kazaam wastes the geniality and genuine
charisma of Shaquille O'Neal in a positively boring story about a little boy who
really needs a father figure. The film's first problem? It makes Shaq out to be
a mean genie when we know he's a fun-loving
guy."
July 18, 1996
The lure of Los Angeles (and a ton of money) appeals to free-agent O'Neal. He
bolts Orlando, signing a seven-year, $120 million contract with the
Lakers.
August,
1996
Shaq's longtime girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh gives birth to the couple's first
child, daughter
Taahirah.
Oct. 29,
1996
At just 26-years-old, O'Neal is selected by a blue-ribbon panel of media
members, former players and coaches, current and former general managers and
team executives as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA
history.
