Although O'Neal struggled with both inconsistency and injuries over the course of the last few years, it won't take away from his Hall of Fame career.
O'Neal, 39, is a four-time NBA champion, was named an All-Star 15 times, was also named one of The NBA's 50 Greatest Players and hold numerous other records. He also has three NBA Finals MVP's and three All-Star game MVP's.
Given the fact that O'Neal missed a total of 74 games during his final two seasons and looked like a shell of his former self really since 2006, it can be easy forget just how dominant Shaq was during his prime.
From 1992-2001, "The Big Diesel" averaged 28 points or more per game five times. He was a beast on the boards, could block shots, and rarely could be contained. He did struggle from the free throw line throughout his career, and if it weren't for those struggles, his numbers could have been that much better.
It was normal for O'Neal to put up eye-popping numbers during the regular season, but Shaq always took his play to another level during the postseason. He averaged 24.3 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, playing in a total of 216 playoff contests. He also had three years where he averaged over 30 points per game in the playoffs.
So which playoff series was Shaq's best? Well, with 216 playoff games played, a total of 8,099 minutes played and 5,250 points scored, it's a tough question to answer.
But fear not. I have an answer for you.
O'Neal, who was drafted first overall by the Orlando Magic in 1992, spent four tumultuous years in Orlando, making the playoffs three out of those four years but never winning a championship. After his contract with the Magic expired in 1996, he decided to move on and sign with the Los Angeles Laker...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
