In 2005, Shaquille O’Neal was a free agent for the Miami Heat. He was ready to sign an extension, but before he did it was common knowledge that he was a big-money superstar. However, despite this reputation, Big Diesel took a $10,000,000 pay cut to stay in South Beach. It was a shocking decision, but, there was a reason for this. As he revealed in his book, Shaq Uncut, the four-time NBA Champion decided to sacrifice his paycheck in order to accommodate a teammate who desperately wanted to play alongside him.
Advertisement
Shaq was easily one of the highest-paid players of his generation. Earning close to $290,000,000 in his 19-year career, he was used to cashing in big checks. Nevertheless, as he continued to mature, his mentality changed from that of a star player to that of a team player. Thus, making him willing to sacrifice $10,000,000 for a teammate.
Shaquille O’Neal forfeited $10,000,000 when he moved to the Miami Heat in order to accommodate a teammate
Shaquille O’Neal has played for some incredible teams over the years. The Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Boston Celtics. However, his time in South Beach was an interesting time in his career. Particularly, because of the sacrifices he made for the team.
Back in 2004, Shaq was earning the most money he ever did with the Los Angeles Lakers. With a close to $28,000,000 salary, he was one of the top earners in the league. Unfortunately, problems arose in LA which saw him forced out to Miami. A year later, he was a free agent, and many expected he would sign a massive $30,000,000 deal with the Heat.
However, to everyone’s surprise, he took a $10,000,000 pay cut and signed a five-year $100,000,000 extension that saw him take home only $20,000,000 per year. But, he had a great motivation for this decision. As he revealed in his book, Antoine Walker who joined the Heat in 2005 was desperate to play with him, and personally enquired if The Big Aristotle would be willing to take a pay cut. And, being the team player that he is, O’Neal readily agreed.
“Antoine Walker came to us in a trade. He was a veteran who could score. ’Toine called me up before he got dealt to Miami and asked me if I would be willing to take a pay cut so they could fit him under the salary cap. He told me he really wanted to play with me, so, being a team player, I took an extension that was a five-year deal for $100,000,000 with the money spread out instead of the three-year deal which would have paid me over $30 million a season.”
A great show of maturity on Shaq’s part, and a great decision too. With Walker on the team, O’Neal went on to win his fourth ring with the Heat in 2006. A win-win for everyone involved.
Shaq left the Orlando Magic back in 1996 because he wanted more money
The story of Shaquille O’Neal, Antoine Walker, and the Miami Heat is an inspiring one, but Shaq wasn’t always read to earn less money. Back in 1996, when he was still a young superstar, he left the Orlando Magic for a bigger paycheck in Los Angeles. Having demanded close to $115,000,000 from the franchise, the franchise refused to cave into his demands.
So, Shaq decided to sign a more lucrative $121,000,000 deal with the Lakers. One that spelled success for the Purple and Gold and sent the Magic into years of mediocrity.
It’s important to remember that Shaq was just a 24-year-old at the time. Money was the only thing on his mind. But, it’s safe to say, that over the years he grew both as a player and as a human being and realized the importance of putting the team first.
