I hate to say it, but I’m going to miss him

I knew it was coming, but didn't expect it today.  I couldn't help but feel somewhat nostalgic, as at one point in my childhood, I actually thought of this player as a favorite.  I wrote him a letter, bought his book, and collected his basketball cards.  I would even go as far as to say that he was the one who really got me into NBA basketball.  He did for me what Tiger Woods did for a lot of amateur golfers, brought me into the game.  Of course there was MJ and others, but this player really captured basketball for me.  And of course, I can't help but laugh at all of his antics.

Today, Shaquille O’Neal - The Big Aristotle, Shaq Fu, The Diesel, The Big Daddy, The Big Cactus, The Big Shaqtus, The Big Shamrock, The Big Leprechaun, is calling it quits and finally retiring from NBA basketball.  Most Kings' fans are probably rejoicing about this news, as Shaquille has always been a thorn in our side, helping to steal an NBA championship away from us (with a little help from the NBA and the refs).  Referring to us as the “Sacramento Queens,” Shaq was our arch rival; provoking the Sacramento Kings' fans to curse his name and ring our cow bells loud and proud.  But there is no denying the dominance of Shaq.  He will undoubted go down as one of the greatest centers to ever play.  Shaq leaves this game with career numbers of 23.7 points per games, 10.9 rebounds, 15 All-Star game appearances, a ROY award, and one MVP award.  He is the NBA’s 5^th all-time leading scorer, 4-time NBA Champion, and the greatest personality off the court we’ve ever seen.  Definitely distinguishing himself amongst the NBA’s all time greats.

Shaq was most definitely an anomaly when he entered the league.  Standing over 7 feet tall and over 300 pounds, the NBA hadn’t seen a player this big in stature probably since Wilt Chamberlain entered the league.  In many ways, watching Shaq and his dominance over other NBA centers must have been similar to what fans witnessed when Chamberlain was playing against the smaller NBA centers back in the day.  Shaq was a physical beast; mowing down anything that got in his way.  Even the baskets themselves couldn’t withstand the force of nature Shaq brought onto them (although after reading his autobiography, I found out that the basket he tore down in Phoenix against the Suns was actually rigged to fall when he dunked).  He was a presence on and off the court and it’s going to feel a little different next season not having him in the NBA anymore.

So where do we place Shaq amongst NBA folklore?  In my eyes, and I'm trying to stay objective here because there is still some hatred built inside from his Lakers days, but Shaq has to be a top 5 center of all-time, and a top 10 player of all-time.  I heard an interview today with Mike Wise, author of Shaq's autobiography, say that Shaq should be considered a top 3 center of all-time, with only Kareem and Bill Russell ahead of him, and Chamberlain as number 4.  The more I started thinking about it, the more I thought he was right.  Kareem will always have the numbers and Russell will always have the rings, but something is different regarding Chamberlain.  Chamberlain to me is that kid in elementary school who got held back a year but was still allowed to play despite his age and size.  That's what it must have felt like for Chamberlain to go up against the competition during his time.  Shaq was dominate against players his own size and therefore, I may give the edge to Shaq on this one. 

Much gets lost in the basketball game of Shaquille O'Neal.  Everyone will forever remember him for his monstrous drunks and poor free throw shooting, but many forget that Shaquille was an above average defender, having finished 3 different times on the NBA All-Defensive Team, and averaging 2.3 blocks per game for his career, 7th all-time overall.  He also was a rebounding machine, averaging 10.9 per game for his career, and finishing 12th all-time overall.  He had a smooth offensive game, developing a consistent soft jump hook from the pant, and having a nice touch around the basket.  And for everything humorous said about his free throw shooting, Shaq always said, "I make them when it counts."  Kings' fans can contest to this, as in Game 7 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals, Shaq went 11-15 from the free throw stripe.  

Shaq is the first hall of fame player from our generation to retire from the game, where we can actually say we got to see every game, every basket, every dunk.  When our kids ask us about Shaq, we can honestly say that we saw him play the entire length of his long, 19 season, NBA career.  We saw him come into the league as a raw talent, develop into a hall of fame great, and leave the game 2 years too late.  I hate to say it, but I'm going to miss him.  I think ESPN said it best in their headliner, and it's the perfect final nickname for him:  The Big Finish.    

Mr. Armchair Speaking