Love, Shaq: At 39, O'Neal says he is ready to retire

Times wires
Wednesday, June 1, 2011

BOSTON — He was a prolific producer of rebounds, record albums and nicknames, as if at 7 feet 1 and 350 pounds he was too big for the simple "Shaq" that made him an instantly recognizable, one-name star in all his endeavors.

Shaquille O'Neal had more than 28,000 points and has almost 4 million Twitter followers. He appeared in six NBA Finals — and three times was named the MVP — and seven feature films, twice in a starring role.

A 15-time All-Star, four-time league champion and the 2000 league MVP, O'Neal, 39, announced his retirement on Twitter on Wednesday after spending most of his 19th season on the Celtics' bench because of leg injuries.

Along with a mid-afternoon Twitter post saying, "im retiring," O'Neal included a link to a 16-second video in which he says, "We did it; 19 years, baby. Thank you very much. That's why I'm telling you first: I'm about to retire. Love you. Talk to you soon."

An inveterate prankster who gave himself a new nickname — or several — in each of his six NBA cities, the first of which was Orlando, O'Neal did not notify the Celtics, leaving them wondering about his plans. He played 37 games this season, the first of a two-year deal at the veteran's minimum salary. He made three brief appearances after Feb. 1.

"I'm a little bit sad," said Heat president Pat Riley, who coached O'Neal to a title in Miami. "He will go down as one of the greatest of all time."

O'Neal spent three years at LSU and was the big prize when the Magic won the 1992 draft lottery. It selected him first overall, and O'Neal had it in the playoffs in two years. He led the Magic to the NBA Finals in his third year; Orlando was swept by the Rockets.

O'Neal signed with the Lakers in 1996 and had his greatest success with them, winning three titles alongside Kobe Bryant and coach Phil Jackson. But amid tension between O'Neal and Bryant after a loss to the Pistons in the Finals, O'Neal was traded to the Heat in summer 2004.

Lakers owner Jerry Buss, who decided to break up the tandem and keep Bryant, thanked O'Neal for a "long and amazing career." The team will retire O'Neal's No. 34, spokesman John Black told ESPN.

After 31/2 years in Miami and his fourth championship, O'Neal moved to Phoenix, then Cleveland and Boston.

labor update: Commissioner David Stern and players union executive director Billy Hunter said a four-hour meeting in Miami about a new collective bargaining agreement was productive. The current pact expires June 30.

Coaching-go-round: Jay Triano will not return to the Raptors next season. … The Rockets hired Kevin McHale to replace Rick Adelman, who left after four seasons.

Timberwolves: Point guard Ricky Rubio, the team's 2009 first-round draft pick, agreed to play for Minnesota next season, ending a two-year negotiation, the Associated Press reported. Rubio, 20, has been playing in his native Spain.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/love-shaq-at-39-oneal-says-he-is-ready-to-retire/1173154

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