[Saba Sports News] Shaquille O’Neal, despite his brief tenure with the Miami Heat, is undeniably one of their all-time greats. In a recent acknowledgment, O’Neal agreed with our ranking, placing him as the fourth-greatest player in Heat history, even sharing the recognition on Instagram with a simple, “Thanks, I’ll take it, appreciate it.”
Ranking the top 10 Heat players of all time was no easy task, considering the franchise’s relatively short history since its formation in 1988. However, O’Neal’s greatness is evident, as he also accepted being ranked as the fourth greatest player in the history of the Los Angeles Lakers.
O’Neal’s time with the Heat began in 2004 when he was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers, forming a formidable duo with the rising star Dwyane Wade. In their first season together, the Heat reached the Eastern Conference Finals, with O’Neal finishing as the MVP runner-up to Steve Nash.
In 2006, the Heat avenged their previous loss to the Detroit Pistons in the Conference Finals, ultimately winning the NBA Championship against the Dallas Mavericks. O’Neal played a crucial role in this victory. However, the following season, Miami was eliminated in the first round by the Chicago Bulls, and O’Neal was later traded to the Phoenix Suns during the 2007-08 season.
Despite the less-than-ideal ending in Phoenix, O’Neal’s time with the Miami Heat is cherished. Over three and a half seasons, he averaged 19.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.4 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game.
When O’Neal joined the Heat, his primary motivation was to win another championship, particularly before his former Lakers teammate, Kobe Bryant. He achieved this goal but couldn’t secure additional championships, as Bryant won back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. The rivalry between O’Neal and Bryant was intense, but they reconciled their relationship before Bryant’s tragic passing in 2020.