Shaquille O'Neal (Part 2)

In the 1993–1994 NBA season, Shaquille O'Neal's second year in the league, Brian Hill took over as the head coach of the Orlando Magic, while Matty Guokas transitioned to a role in the front office. This change in leadership coincided with O'Neal's continued development as a dominant force in the NBA.
O'Neal significantly elevated his game during his sophomore season, showcasing his scoring prowess by averaging an impressive 29.4 points per game, trailing only David Robinson in the league's scoring leaderboard. He also led the NBA in field goal percentage, shooting an outstanding 60% from the field.
On November 20, 1993, O'Neal achieved a historic milestone by recording the first triple-double of his career in a game against the New Jersey Nets. He amassed 24 points along with career-highs of 28 rebounds and an astonishing 15 blocks, highlighting his versatility and impact on both ends of the court.


Acknowledging his exceptional performance, O'Neal earned a spot in the All-Star game and was named to the All-NBA Third Team for his contributions throughout the season. Teamed up with newly drafted star Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, the Orlando Magic enjoyed a successful campaign, finishing with a franchise-best record of 50–32 and securing a playoff berth for the first time in the team's history.
However, despite their regular-season success, the Magic faced a tough challenge in the playoffs, where they were matched up against the Indiana Pacers. In his first playoff series, O'Neal continued to excel, averaging 20.7 points and 13.3 rebounds per game. However, the Magic ultimately fell short as the Pacers swept the series, ending their postseason run prematurely.


In the 1994–95 NBA season, Shaquille O'Neal continued to establish himself as one of the premier talents in the league. He led the NBA in scoring with an impressive average of 29.3 points per game while also contributing significantly on the defensive end. Despite finishing second in MVP voting to David Robinson, O'Neal delivered exceptional performances throughout the season, earning his third consecutive All-Star selection alongside his teammate Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway.
Together, O'Neal and Hardaway formed a formidable duo that propelled the Orlando Magic to a stellar 57–25 record, clinching the Atlantic Division crown and establishing themselves as contenders in the Eastern Conference.


During the 1995 NBA Playoffs, the Magic made a historic run, securing their first-ever playoff series victory by defeating the Boston Celtics. They continued their impressive postseason campaign by overcoming the formidable Chicago Bulls in the conference semifinals. With O'Neal's dominant play leading the way, the Magic advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, setting up a showdown against the defending champions, the Houston Rockets.
Despite O'Neal's outstanding performance in his maiden Finals appearance, where he averaged 28 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists while shooting 59.5% from the field, the Magic fell short as the Rockets, led by the dynamic duo of Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, swept the series in four games, denying O'Neal and the Magic their first championship.


In the following 1995–96 season, O'Neal faced injury setbacks, missing 28 games due to various ailments. Nonetheless, he continued to be a dominant force on the court, averaging 26.6 points and 11 rebounds per game. Despite his contributions, the Magic finished with a regular-season record of 60–22, securing the second seed in the Eastern Conference behind the record-setting Chicago Bulls.
During the playoffs, the Magic easily dispatched the Detroit Pistons and the Atlanta Hawks in the first two rounds. However, their championship aspirations were dashed once again as they were swept by Michael Jordan's dominant Bulls in the Eastern Conference finals, bringing an end to their postseason journey.


After the 1995–96 NBA season, Shaquille O'Neal became a free agent and faced a pivotal moment in his career. In the summer of 1996, O'Neal represented the United States Olympic basketball team at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where he contributed to the team's gold medal victory. However, back in Orlando, where the Magic were based, O'Neal's relationship with the team and head coach Brian Hill had soured.
During the Olympics, a local newspaper poll in Orlando questioned whether the Magic should fire Hill if that was one of O'Neal's conditions for returning, with a resounding 82% of respondents saying "no." Additionally, there were tensions within the team, with O'Neal feeling disrespected by Hill and sensing a power struggle. The media scrutiny intensified as questions arose about O'Neal's worth and his personal life, including criticism for having a child with his girlfriend without immediate plans for marriage.


Feeling disillusioned with the situation in Orlando, O'Neal sought a fresh start and announced his decision to join the Los Angeles Lakers on a lucrative seven-year, $121 million contract. Despite the financial aspect, O'Neal emphasized his desire to focus on basketball and play for a team that valued him. The move to Los Angeles marked a significant turning point in his career, offering him a chance to escape the controversies and challenges he faced in Orlando.
In his first season with the Lakers during the 1996–97 NBA season, O'Neal continued to showcase his dominance on the court, averaging 26.2 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. However, injuries limited his availability, causing him to miss over 30 games. The Lakers made the playoffs but were eliminated in the second round by the Utah Jazz.


The following season, O'Neal elevated his game, averaging 28.3 points and 11.4 rebounds while leading the league in field goal percentage. Teamed up with emerging star Kobe Bryant, the Lakers finished the season with a stellar 61–21 record but fell short in the playoffs, losing to the Jazz in a 4–0 sweep.
Despite the disappointment, the tandem of O'Neal and Bryant signaled a new era of competitiveness for the Lakers. However, instability within the team, including personnel changes and coaching adjustments, posed challenges during the 1998–99 season. The Lakers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the playoffs, highlighting the need for further refinement and cohesion within the organization.

References

1.  "Shaquille O'Neal | Biography & Facts". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
2. ^ Wise, Mike. "Shaq to biological father: 'I don't hate you'". Andscape. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
3. a b Plaschke, Bill (June 12, 2002). "'Biological Didn't Bother'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 25, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
4. ^ Wise, Mike (September 9, 2016). "Shaq to biological father: 'I don't hate you'". Andscape. ESPN. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
5. ^ Ryan, Michael (February 13, 2000). "Where They Gave Me A Chance". Parade. Archived from the original on June 28, 2006. Retrieved March 21, 2006.
6. ^ "Shaq Sets Bar High for Young Lives, BIG Stories Campaign". Army.mil. United States Army. Archived from the original on September 11, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
7. ^ "Key Moments In Shaquille O'neal History". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. July 11, 2004. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
8. ^ McMurray, Bill. Bill McMurray's Texas High School All-Time Sports Record Book (6th ed.). Four Star Publications.
9. a b Schmitz, Brian (August 25, 1992). "Shaquille Shows Class In Switching To No. 32". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
10. ^ "O'Neal to get degree from LSU". The Daily Texan. December 12, 2000. Archived from the original on June 3, 2008. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
11. ^ "O'Neal: LSU Hall of Fame". barrystickets.com. 2007. Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2007.
12. ^ Athletic Department. "LSU Basketball Practice Facility – LSUsports.net – The Official Web Site of LSU Tigers Athletics". LSUsports.net. Archived from the original on February 10, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
13. ^ Luke, Chelsea. (April 28, 2015). "College triple-double header: Kyle Collinsworth versus Shaquille O'Neal" Archived May 29, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
14. ^ "Michael Carter-Williams Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week". NBA.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
15. ^ "MAGIC: Magic History". NBA.com/magic. Archived from the original on February 1, 2008. Retrieved March 10, 2008.