The retired American basketball player Shaquille O’Neal was born in 1972 in Newark, New Jersey. From the time he was a young man, Shaq’s talents on the basketball court were evident; by the time he was in high school, he was one of his school’s most impressive players, leading the team to a state championship and two of its most successful years on record. After playing basketball for Louisiana State University, Shaq was drafted by the Orlando Magic in 1992.  

After his time with the Orlando Magic, O’Neal went on to play for the Los Angeles Lakers, then the Miami Heat, the Phoenix Suns, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and then finally the Boston Celtics. At the time of his retirement, Shaq had racked up multiple All-Star game selections, three Finals MVP award, three NBA All-Defensive Team selections, an MVP award and the NBA Rookie of the Year award for 1992-1993. His record as one of the era’s most successful basketball players includes ranking 7^th in blocks, 5^th in field goals, and 6^th in points scored.

Even before his retirement, Shaquille had also launched a music career, releasing his debut rap album, Shaq Diesel, in 1993. The album reached platinum status and led to three more album releases. More recently, O’Neal became a frequent and familiar face on the celebrity DJ circuit. Performing as DJ Diesel, Shaq appeared in Las Vegas during the summer of 2015, and was a featured act in September of 2015 at TomorrowWorld in Atlanta.

In addition to basketball and music, Shaq has also become a highly recognizable figure in both film and television. His earliest roles were in films such as Blue Chips and Kazaam, followed by a number of guest starring roles on television series such as Curb Your Enthusiasm and My Wife and Kid. He also appeared in the documentary film Apple Pie, and for one season hosted his own reality competition, Shaq’s Big Challenge, for the ABC network. Most recently, Shaq began a run as an analyst for the TNT network, and he currently hosts his own show for TruTV, Upload with Shaquille O’Neal.

Shaq was recently elected to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017. His most recent film contribution was as the voice of Karma for the animated film Show Dogs (2017.) He will next appear in Uncle Drew, in the role of Big Fella. The film is scheduled for release in the summer of 2018.

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