Anyone who knows the Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal, knows that he was one of the most sought-after NBA players back in the day. But did you know that the Orlando Magic once lost Shaq to the Lakers, due to a lack of money?

As confirmed by the 49-year-old himself, O’Neal was offered more money by the team in yellow and purple, which resulted in him meeting the legendary Lakers owner Jerry Buss and finalizing the deal. The rest, as they say, is history.

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One of the most fierce stars that the league has seen till date, Shaquille O’Neal made a name for himself as a center. With his wall-like blocks and darting offenses, he was a proven match-winner for LA. Combining with the likes of Kobe Bryant over the years, the 15-time All-star won four NBA titles, including a three-peat.

Following his stint at LA, he featured for several other franchises. One of the most expensive buys of his generation, Shaq was worth every penny spent on him.

Shaquille O’Neal reveals how he moved on from Orlando to sign for the Lakers

A retired veteran now, Shaquille began his career way back in 1992. Before signing with Los Angeles, ‘Superman’ originally played for the Orlando Magic. However, his impressive performances caused a stir in the league, drawing interest from multiple other franchises. And while his home side did offer him a deal to continue, he was tempted by a bigger, better offer.

To nobody’s surprise, this came in the form of iconic owner Jerry Buss and his Los Angeles Lakers. Eventually, Shaq signed with them, becoming one of the most expensive buys in the late 20th century.

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As he revealed on a recent podcast, the Hall-of-Famer spoke about his stint with Orlando, before claiming that they didn’t offer him enough money.

After stating that there was a 4-year, $80 million offer on the table, he talked about his rejection of the deal. “I said listen, if a BMW cost $115,000, how much do you think this is gonna cost? That’s all I said. So then they were like no we’re not gonna do it. And then I was at a strip club, Manchester City. My former agent Leonard Armato called me, had one of those big dope man phones, and said ‘you need to come see me now, I got what you want’. So when I get there, open the door, it’s the great Jerry Buss.”

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Hence, Shaq ended up with the Lakers in a unique manner. What ensued was a storied career filled with glamour and success. Do you think Shaquille O’Neal is LA’s biggest legend? Have your say in the comments.