What Year Was Shaq Drafted
Shaquille O’Neal’s renowned name transcends the basketball fan base due to his compelling career on and off the court. He is a former All-Star center and a Hall of Fame member. Before we answer what year Shaq was drafted let’s dive into his early years.
Shaquille Rasheed O’Neal was born in Newark, New Jersey, on March 6, 1972. His dad, Joe Toney, battled drug addiction and was not an active father figure in his life. Incarcerated when Shaq was still young, Joe gave up the parental rights to Shaq’s stepfather, Phillip Arthur Harrison.
Since childhood, Shaquille’s considerable size has been the feature that sets him apart from the rest. He attended Robert G. Cole High School in San Antonio and developed exceptional ball-handling skills. He was eventually granted a scholarship to Louisiana State University.
O’Neal rose remarkably to stardom while enrolled at Louisiana State University (LSU). He was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992. Earning consensus first-team All-American honors in both years.
Shaq was instrumental in helping LSU compete at the highest level. That allowed the team to qualify for the NCAA tournament in all three seasons he played.
What year was Shaq drafted?
In 1992, the Orlando Magic had the first pick of the NBA Draft. The Franchise selected Shaq as their first choice in the NBA draft on June 24, 1992.
Being a 20-year-old rookie, Shaquille O’Neal proved his worth by getting 18 rebounds in his first game. He earned the NBA Player of the Week for outstanding performance in his first week playing in the league.
It took him only a short time to move among the leaders in various statistical categories. By the end of his rookie season Shaq was eighth in scoring (23.4 points per game) and fourth in field-goal percentage (.562). He was second in rebounding (13.9 rebounds per game) and second in blocks (3.53 per game). And first in turnovers (307).
After a successful year leading the Magic to the NBA Playoffs, Shaq earned a spot on the USA team at the 1994 World Basketball Championships. He averaged 18.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Team USA clinched the gold medal after eight games.
In the 1994-95 season, with an average scoring of 29.3 points per game, he helped Orlando Magic finish top of the Eastern Conference with a 57-25 record. Despite Orlando’s success in the regular season, they were defeated by the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals.
Shaq’s NBA Hall of Fame Journey
Shaq played for six different teams throughout his career: the Orlando Magic (1992-1996), Los Angeles Lakers (1996-2004), Miami Heat (2004-2008), Phoenix Suns (2008-2009), Cleveland Cavaliers (2009-2010), and Boston Celtics (2010-2011).
While in Los Angeles, both Shaq and Kobe achieved numerous milestones, such as winning three championships, earning MVP awards, and setting a single-season record. Shaq holds four championship rings after he won three while being a part of the Lakers and one within the Heat. He concluded his NBA career in 2011 after a season playing with the Boston Celtics.
In 2016, Shaq was inducted into the NBA’s Hall of Fame, and in the following year, he was honored with induction into the International Basketball Federation’s (FIBA) Hall of Fame.
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