Shaquille O’Neal is a household name these days. During the prime of his youth, he was an equally unstoppable force. But there was a time period when O’Neal was fading from the limelight. At a point in his career where he took a backseat, Shaq found himself sequestered and far away from his best version.
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What did he do? Re-invent himself, of course. The Big Diesel is one of the greatest players to have played the game. There is no way he would have gone out without giving himself a chance.
Back in 2006, right before he won his 4th and final championship, nearly 14 years after making his NBA debut, we witnessed a new Shaq. A man who let go of his “dominance of the paint” play style.
He was something new, something that was akin to the flair that a certain Kareem Abdul-Jabbar once showcased in the early 1980s. Except, he was a better passer.
“Kareem was great, but Shaq is a pinpoint passer”: Pat Riley helped Shaquille O’Neal steer his career at the end
In the 2006 playoffs, Shaq was different. He was a far better operator of space, not just the juggernaut from his early days. He still wanted to dominate, albeit he found different
No longer the one-dimensional dunker of his youth, O’Neal has worked diligently to find new ways to dominate as he once did so easily. Shaq was getting old but he was still very good.
Coach Pat Riley had this to say, “He’s the best passing center from the low post that I’ve ever been around,”. He added, “Kareem was great, but Shaq is a pinpoint passer, and we run a lot of our plays through him as a point center.”.
Pat coached Kareem and Shaq both, and to make such an open remark is a little uncharacteristic. Because of the fact that Shaquille and Pat didn’t really see eye to eye.
Shaq’s tenure in Miami was marked by ups and downs
Shaquille O’Neal’s time in Miami had both success and controversy. The big man joined the Heat in 2004, forming a formidable partnership with a young Dwyane Wade.
The duo led the team to the NBA championship in 2006, with Shaq averaging 13.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game during the postseason. However, his time in Miami was also marred by conflicts with the team’s management and coaching staff.
In particular, Shaq clashed with head coach Pat Riley, who criticized his work ethic and conditioning. Despite the ups and downs, Shaq’s stint in Miami was a significant chapter in his illustrious career, and he remains a beloved figure among Heat fans to this day.
