“Rajon Rondo is the only player left that can keep Shaquille O’Neal’s ridiculous streak alive”: Michael Jordan wasn’t even an NBA player when we last saw a Finals without a Shaq teammate

Shaquille O’Neal has had a teammate of his reach the NBA Finals every single season since 1984, so Rajon Rondo needs to make the NBA Finals. 

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most accomplished players to have ever taken to NBA hardwood. A 4x champion, 3x Finals MVP, an MVP, and a multitude of All-Star and All-NBA put the Lakers legend in the uppermost echelon of legends that have played in the NBA. 

However, he never worked alone, as most superstars don’t. Each of his title runs and most of the teams he was on had an incredible lineup of eventual Hall-of-Famers. His Lakers had Kobe Bryant, the Magic had Penny Hardaway, the Heat and the Suns had Dwyane Wade and Steve Nash respectively, the Cavs had LeBron James, and the Celtics had Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce.

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There are, of course, more names that could be added to the aforementioned list but these are the most noteworthy in terms of a historical standpoint. Interestingly enough, Shaquille O’Neal, due to the caliber of players he played with, has one of the most ridiculous streaks in NBA Finals history. 

Shaquille O’Neal has one team that he can count on to keep his streak alive. 

One of the more occurrences to take place in the NBA is the streak that Shaquille O’Neal’s past teammates are a part of. At least a single teammate of Shaq’s has made the NBA Finals every single season since the 1984 season, when Greg Kite played for Celtics and eventually made his way to the Magic in 1994. 

Fast-forward nearly 40 years later and the ‘Big Aristotle’s’ streak is still alive and kicking. However, this streak of his, in 2021, hinges on whether or not the Los Angeles Clippers make the NBA Finals. This is because Rajon Rondo plays for the Clips, and is also the only player left in the Finals race that has suited up alongside Shaq.

If Rajon Rondo and the Clippers fail to advance to the Finals, Shaq’s 37-year streak will finally come to an end.

— Mike Goldfarb (@MikeGoldFool) June 21, 2021

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Some interesting names that have helped keep Shaquille O’Neal’s streak are: Sasha Pavlovic in 2011 with the Mavericks, Boris Diaw with the Spurs in 2014, John Salley with the Pistons in 1990, and Danny Green in 2019 with the Raptors.