During his stellar years with the Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O’Neal established himself as one of the most physically dominant players in NBA history. There were times during his LA stint when the 7-foot big man weighed more than 350 pounds. However, he was not always hefty during his career. Shaq’s stint with the Orlando Magic saw a different version of The Big Diesel.
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O’Neal’s former running mate at Orlando, Penny Hardaway, tried to remind fans of the sheer insane physical gifts Shaq had in his early years in the league.
“People don’t even remember how little he was. He was big but he was like ripped. He wasn’t that heavy Shaq when he was in L.A. He was fast, bro. He was getting up and down running. That’s the dude I remember most,” said Hardaway, while appearing as a guest on Zach Randolph and Tony Allen’s Out The Mud Podcast.
At every stage of his career, O’Neal’s strength outmatched his opponents. However, one of the major reasons scouts considered him a generational prospect was because of his remarkable agility.
Shaq came into the league slim and ripped, and his speed was well above the standard for his position. His speed and physical attributes made him a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. He would bruise his way through the paint while running at speeds guards generally operated.
When Shaq entered the NBA, he weighed 301 pounds. After winning his third consecutive championship with the Lakers, his weight soared to 380 pounds. Often people tend to forget the lean and mean Shaq that dominated the game in Orlando colors.
According to Hardaway, O’Neal was a very different player in Orlando. The numbers back up his claims.
Shaq’s dominance in his early years
Shaq’s dominance didn’t solely begin in Los Angeles. The big man was a force to reckon with even during his slimmer years in Orlando.
Unlike many young players who had a sophomore slump, O’Neal saw a sophomore surge. He emerged as one of the top big men in his second year, scoring 29.3 points and 13.2 rebounds per game in the 1993-94 season.
In the 1994-95 season, O’Neal improved even further by leading the league in scoring at 29.3 points per game. His production led Orlando to their first NBA Finals berth. However, they were swept by the Houston Rockets in the series.
During his early years, movement became one of Shaq’s strongest attributes. Later in his playing years, his lack of mobility resulted in recurring injuries. It’s plausible to infer that if Shaq had prioritized maintaining a leaner physique, as he did during his Magic career, he could have avoided injuries.
Regardless, the decorated resume is proof that both eras of Shaq’s career were highlighted by his overall dominance as a player.
