It’s hard to think about the NBA from the 1990s and 2000s without mentioning Shaquille O’Neal.
O’Neal is one of the most dominant big men in league history, crushing his opponents in his prime.
He played for several notable franchises, including the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics.
O’Neal is a four-time NBA champion, winning three-straight titles with the Lakers, followed by a later Finals win with the Heat.
While it was great for him to get another ring as a member of the Heat, O’Neal took a pay cut to play for them.
At the time, this seemed like an odd thing to do, especially considering how dominant of a player he was.
However, O’Neal revealed why he did this in a recent segment of The OGs Show, as shared on X.
“You know, for me, it’s not about money, it’s about maximizing your potential,” O’Neal said.
Shaq on taking a paycut to help the Miami Heat win a championship 👀
Watch full episode here: https://t.co/dGJfPnPWp3 pic.twitter.com/Ns1v7yUTQy
— The OGs Show (@theOGsShow) September 17, 2024
After a few conversations at the time, he realized it would have been selfish to hold out for the biggest possible contract he could get.
His pay cut allowed the Heat to sign other players to add to their roster, and in hindsight, this was the right move.
The Heat have been one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference over the past 20 years, and their winning ways were inspired by what O’Neal was able to accomplish on the court.
This is a historic franchise, one that looks to move forward confidently, hopefully winning another title very soon.
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