In 2004, Shaquille O’Neal left the Los Angeles Lakers after eight years of service. It was a high-publicized exit and one that saw Shaq move to the Miami Heat. Things started going south in Cali after Big Diesel began asking Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss to pay him a whopping $150,000,000. It even reached a point where he would ask mid-game. However, seven years after making these rude demands, O’Neal praised Buss in his book Shaq Uncut for putting the past behind and retiring his jersey, unlike Pat Riley.
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Shaq’s time in LA ended on a sour note. The clash of egos between himself and Kobe Bryant became too much to handle for the organization. And, with the Lakers seeing the future in the Black Mamba, Shaq’s fate seemed to have been decided. But, things became set in stone once he started demanding a larger paycheck. Fortunately, they were able to make amends, as Dr. Buss decided to let the past remain in the past.
Shaquille O’Neal was grateful to Jerry Buss for retiring his No.34 Lakers jersey
On April 2nd, 2013, Shaquille O’Neal received the ultimate honor available to a few select Lakers legends. The player considered to be the most dominant force in NBA history had his jersey retired by the Lakers organization. It was a huge moment and one that Shaq was ecstatic about.
After all, it was an honor he wasn’t sure he would receive. Especially, given how his time in LA ended. His demands for a $150,000,000 contract back in 2004 fell on deaf ears. The then Lakers owner, Jerry Buss had no intention of paying him that much money. Safe to say, the whole saga left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth.
However, seven years later, in his book Shaq Uncut, O’Neal had nothing but praise for Buss. He expressed how thankful he was to Dr. Buss for letting bygones be bygones. And, for giving him the pleasure of seeing his iconic No.34 jersey hanging from the rafters alongside the likes of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Jerry West.
“My father is still a force. That’s the best way to put it. Even now, when he’s battling some health issues, the fire is still there. He’s having a harder time with my retirement than I am. I told him that the Lakers said they are going to hang my jersey up there with Kareem and Magic and Jerry West. I thought it would cheer him up. I can tell you it thrilled me. My time with the Lakers were the best basketball years of my life. Thanks, Dr. Buss, for putting our differences behind
us.”
Shaq truly was grateful to Dr. Buss. Something that he cannot say about Miami Heat President, Pat Riley. To say that Diesel and Riley had a bad relationship would be an understatement. The four-time NBA Champion once accused Riley of being a liar. And, unlike how things went between him and Buss, it doesn’t look like he and Riley have put the past behind them.
Shaq not only had his jersey retired, but also had a statue erected in his honor
Shaquille O’Neal was definitely ecstatic about his jersey retirement in 2013. But, four years later, he received an even greater honor, as the Lakers decided to erect a statue of him outside the Crypto.com arena. The 9’0″ tall, 1200-pound sculpture was created by artists Omri Amrany and Julie Rotblatt-Amrany.
Given the caliber of player Shaq was, it’s safe to say that he earned both of these prestigious honors. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest Lakers of all time. And now, he has both a jersey in the rafters and a statue to show for it.
