Basketball Star, Broadcaster, Rapper
Born: March 6, 1972, in Newark, New Jersey
New Jersey Hall of Fame, Class of 2009: Sports

One could say it would take a big man to fill Shaquille O’Neal’s shoes—but that would be an understatement. His size-23 shoes are just a footnote to the story of the man known as “Shaq,” a 15-time NBA All-Star who is universally heralded as one of the greatest professional basketball players of all time.

Growing up in Newark’s Central Ward, O’Neal was raised by his mother and a supportive stepfather. The latter was a career military man who moved the family to bases in Germany and Texas. In Texas, O’Neal led his high school basketball team to a 68-1 record over two years and a state championship in 1989, his senior year.

O’Neal enrolled at Louisiana State University, where he studied business and starred in basketball, twice earning All-American and SEC Player of the Year honors. In 1991, he was also named player of the year by the NCAA, the Associated Press, and UPI. Leaving LSU early to turn pro, O’Neal was the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft in 1992.

Much was expected of the massive 7-foot-1 center. He did not disappoint. Starting his career with the Orlando Magic, O’Neal was named Rookie of the Year and was an All-Star starter, a rarity for a rookie. In his second season, he led the league in field-goal percentage (60%) and led the Magic to the NBA playoffs. The following season, O’Neal led the league in scoring (averaging 29.3 points per game) and took the Magic all the way to the NBA finals. (They lost to the Houston Rockets.)

After four seasons with the Magic, O’Neal signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers—but first he was picked for the U.S. Olympic basketball team, which would win the Gold Medal in Atlanta in 1996. Back on the pro court, O’Neal won three consecutive world championships with the Lakers from 2000-2002. He was named Most Valuable Player in the finals all three championship seasons, and was overall NBA MVP in 2000. In 2004, O’Neal moved on to the Miami Heat, winning a fourth championship in 2006. After four seasons with the Heat, he closed out his illustrious career with the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics.

During his 19-year NBA career, O’Neal led the NBA in scoring twice, and in field-goal percentage 10 times. A force on both offense and defense, he ranks among the NBA’s best all-time in points scored, field goals, rebounds, and blocks. Thanks to his ability to dunk the basketball, he ranks third all-time in field-goal percentage at 58.2 percent. In 2016, O’Neal was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. His Jersey number has been retired by the Magic, the Lakers, and the Heat.

In addition to his legendary feats on the basketball court, O’Neal has had success as an actor, rapper, spokesperson, and broadcast analyst. He has made more than 15 movies and dozens of TV appearances, often cast as himself. He also has been the focal point of several TV reality shows, and is among the featured analysts on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” program. As a rapper, he has released four albums; the first, “Shaq Diesel,” went platinum.

The superstar’s Shaquille O’Neal Foundation has raised millions for charitable causes, mainly benefitting underserved youth. O’Neal is a spokesperson and major supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, an organization he credits with keeping him off the streets during his youth in Newark. In 2024, O’Neal received a Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for his philanthropy.