Fans can’t believe footage of Shaquille O’Neal’s final NBA game with Boston Celtics as Superman looked ‘lost’ on court
Shaquille O'Neal is one of the most dominant players in NBA history.
But O'Neal endured a long, winding road toward the end of his career and he didn't exit the league at the top of his game.
5
Basketball fans associate Shaq with the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic.
He's also well known as a key member of TNT's Inside the NBA crew with Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson.
But the four-time NBA champion and three-time Finals MVP also played for a few other teams.
O'Neal won a title supporting Dwyane Wade with the Miami Heat in 2005-06.
READ MORE ON NBA
Yet 'The Big Aristotle' wasn't himself with Phoenix and Cleveland, while his final NBA days with the Boston Celtics saw Superman looking almost unrecognizable.
"Shaq just looks wrong playing for the Celtics," one fan posted.
"I really feel sad for him," a second fan wrote. "Every athlete has their own downfall and not everyone ends their career like Kobe (Bryant)."
"It’s sooo weird seeing Shaq on the court not dominating and just on the court standing around," a third fan said. "You could tell Shaq had nothing left he was sooo out of shape and unconditioned. Crazy."
Most read in Basketball
5
5
Footage of O'Neal's final NBA game is stunning to watch 13 years later.
While Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics will attempt to take down Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 Finals, Shaq's performance in Game 4 of the 2011 Eastern Conference finals is almost unbelievable.
NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal doesn't realise his own strength as he accidentally breaks Travis and Jason Kelce's bobble head toy
O'Neal appears out of shape and unmotivated during what was a pivotal game for Boston, which trailed the Miami Heat's Big Three of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Wade 2-1 in the series.
A legend with 15 All-Star selections and three All-Defensive Team honors finished his final NBA game with zero points, zero shots and two fouls in just 3 minutes and 31 seconds of court time.
O'Neal didn't even play in a season-ending Game 5.
One fan theorized that a sluggish O'Neal was recovering from an injury in Game 4.
"Shaq was so hurt he couldn't walk," the fan said.
Others wondered how it could have ended so badly for one of the most dominant players in NBA history.
5
5
"Man he could barely move," one fan posted.
"He looks lost. Like he doesn't know what to do," a second fan said.
In his TV career, O'Neal has often spoken about the lessons he learned during his playing days.
“If you are going to retire, accept it, [and] enjoy your family,†O’Neal said.
“I made a lot of dumb mistakes to where I lost my family, and I didn’t have anybody."
The No. 1 pick of the 1992 NBA Draft was selected to the league's 75th Anniversary Team and averaged a double-double (23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds) in 1,207 games.
Read More on talkSPORT
O'Neal was named Rookie of the Year and consistently finished in the top 10 of NBA MVP voting.
He won the award in 1999-2000 as the Lakers posted a 67-15 record and hoisted the Finals trophy.
Topics