Shaquille O’Neal is perhaps the greatest center in NBA history. The man was a dominant force to be reckoned with, both on and off the court.
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Having been one of the many faces of the league, a player of Shaq’s caliber can be a little egotistical. To the point where some of the things he did were downright cruel.
Like with the rookie hazing. There were times when Shaq took me too far, as one rookie ended up with the smelliest shoe in the Laker locker room.
Shaquille O’Neal put a rookie’s suit in a locket room filled with smelly shoes
The relationship between veterans and rookies in the NBA is an important one. Primarily because it is the vets who introduce the rookies to life as a superstar.
One of the most important parts of that relationship is rookie hazing. A traditional ritual that can at times go too far. Like with Shaquille O’Neal. In the book Three-Ring Circus, it is revealed that Diesel would sometimes be too cruel with the hazing. For example, the big man once put rookie, Shea Seals’ suit in a dirty locker for refusing to get another veteran’s drink.
Shaq refused to be hazed by his veterans as a rookie in the Orlando Magic
Despite being a notorious hazer, Shaq himself as a rookie refused to be hazed. He wouldn’t even perform simple tasks like carrying the veterans’ bags. Why? Because he believed he was the star of the Magic and shouldn’t have to do anything.
On this date in 1993, @SHAQ was named @NBA Rookie of the Year, capping a dominant season in Orlando. #FBF pic.twitter.com/EVU91hQhbQ
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) May 7, 2016
Quite a hypocritical move from Shaq. But what’s in the past is in the past, he is certainly a much more mature person now.