Shaquille O’Neal Rants How He Got His Feelings Hurt by a $115 Million Decision of the NBA Fans

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most storied franchises in the NBA. And in 1996, they made a move that history would never forget. A 24-year-old Shaquille O’Neal had become one of the best players in the league. However, with ‘Magic’ adamant about giving him a big offer, the Big Diesel was free for all. With the brain of Jerry West, he put the purple and gold in a position to get Shaq. That single move would turn out to alter history completely. During his recent podcast, the four-time champ spoke about his trade and how the city of Orlando was responsible for his departure.

Just four years into the league, Shaq had become the most unstoppable force in the NBA. He was the top dog and the centerpiece for Orlando. With a healthy Penny Hardaway, they had already got the best of Michael Jordan in 1995. Hence, they were all set for a dynasty with side pieces such as Horace Grant, also in their prime. However, the Magic front office was not willing to give Shaq the money. They kept lowballing him. And the final nail in the coffin came from the fans.

While Shaq was gearing up for the Olympics, a poll came out that turned out to be a fortune for the Lakers. In the recent episode of his podcast, the Hall of Famer put his own spin on the situation.

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How Magic fans made their biggest mistake driving away Shaquille O’Neal

By 1996, the Big Diesel had made the biggest noise in the league. He was already a Rookie of The Year, a three-time All-NBA member, and a runner-up for the Most Valuable Player. But all the accolades weren’t enough to convince Orlando to give Shaq what he wanted. Looking for an extension, Shaq had his value at $115 million for 7 years. However, the fans felt otherwise. In a poll by the Orlando Sentinel, 91% of the NBA world felt O’Neal wasn’t worth the money. And that became the foundation for one of the biggest steals in NBA history.

Shaquille O’Neal hasn’t let go of the situation either. He spoke about the disrespect and how that drove him away from one dynasty to another. Shaq said: “Yeah, I knew it and I saw it, I was like okay. You all don’t want me? Y’all don’t love Death Row? Y’all don’t love Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre?”

At the end of the day, it turned out to be the biggest mistake in the history of the Orlando Magic. West gave Shaq an offer he couldn’t refuse and the Big Diesel was in LA. Kobe Bryant had become a lethal scorer, and the Big Diesel had a perfect right hand. The duo went on to annihilate the competition over the next 3 seasons. To this day, they remain the last team to complete a three-peat.

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Shaquille O’Neal joined the lost elite centers, who donned the purple and gold. He became a three-time Finals MVP. It was a move that altered the league in a way no one saw coming. However, for Orlando, it was a time they regret even to this day. Do you think Shaq and Penny would have created their own dynasty with the Magic? Let us know your views in the comments below.