“Orlando Is the First Option!”: Months Before $121,000,000 Lakers Move, Shaquille O’Neal’s Legacy Was ‘Unnecessarily’ Put in Question by TV Analysts

Shaquille O’Neal was arguably one of the most dominant players in the NBA during his heydays. However, every now and then a great player’s legacy is questioned and the same happened with Shaq. The 1996 offseason was very hard for the big man that put him under the criticism of many. During the 1996 trade window, a reporter questioning O’Neal’s trade rumors to the Lakers, called O’Neal ‘a loser’ if left then and questioned his legacy as a player. Eventually, a few months later Big Shaq signed a $121,000,000 deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

When Shaq became a free agent, Orlando was ready to offer him $80 million. However, Shaq thought that he was way more worth than what Magic was offering him. According to the four-time NBA champion, his decision ultimately boiled down to choosing money. He personally met with then Lakers owner the great Jerry Buss. When the team offered him $121 million to sign with them Shaq immediately signed the deal.

Before signing with the Lakers, Shaquille O’Neal said he would put himself and his family first

When Shaquille O’Neal became a free agent in 1996, he sat down with NBC Sports to discuss his trade options. When the reporter asked him about his future in Orlando now that he was an unrestricted free agent. “Orlando is my first option. I am gonna do what is best for me and my family,” a 24-year-old Shaq said.

However, what followed was just an unthinkable insult to a player of Shaq’s caliber. Speaking about Shaq wanting to explore trade options, one of the NBA analysts said that the Magic star was worth $50 million for seven years. This is what he said;

“I think the Lakers are prepared to definitely go after him and they can give him an average of $50 million over a seven-year deal. In Orlando, the negotiations with Shaq has been ongoing. They talked to him about seven years but he doesn’t want to play seven years. I think he will stay here in Orlando, the last thing this guy wants to do leave this place a loser.” 

The panelists also included the great Dr. J, Julius Erving. Addressing Erving the other reports commented that the new generation of players like Shaq does not look at legacy the same way the older generation did.

Implying that the former MVP would ruin his league by leaving the Magic. “Maybe the younger generation of athletes doesn’t look at legacy the same way your generation did. This guy has a chance if he is lucky if he stays injury free to be one of the greatest players of all-time,” he remarked. However, Shaq gave replies to all such criticism by winning 3 championships, 3 NBA MVPs, and a regular season MVP with the Lakers.

Shaq put his legacy in perspective after arriving in Los Angeles

In his rookie season with the Magic Shaq averaged over 23 points a game and grabbed almost 14 rebounds. His dominance started to show in the second and third seasons when he almost averaged 30 points a game in both seasons. Big Diesel was already showing signs of being one of the greatest in the game. However, the only thing missing from his resume was a title, even if he was only 24 years of age.  

Perhaps, the first time opponents started to fear Shaq was when he arrived in Los Angeles. Lakers under Shaq and Kobe Bryant became an immovable force in the league in the 2000s.