Former LSU Tiger and Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal has had his fair share of nicknames during his career, but now you can add ‘the big statue’ to that list.
O’Neal had his likeness immortalized at his old college stomping grounds at Louisiana State University. The statue, which reportedly weighs approximately 900 pounds, is of O’Neal as a slender, compared to his later days, college center who dominated the SEC and put himself in the position to be the number one overall draft pick in the 1992 NBA Draft.
There is no doubt that O’Neal’s Lakers legacy is still somewhat split, as many fans still hold a grudge against the center for joining the Boston Celtics late in his 19-year career.
Regardless of the fan’s perspective on O’Neal, the artist formerly known as Superman says his time with the Lakers were some of the best years of his life.
When asked the three favorite moments of his NBA career, O’Neal listed two events that happened during his stint with the Lakers.
“When I scored 61 points on my birthday (March 6, 2000, against the L.A. Clippers); winning the three-peat (from 2000-02 wearing a Lakers uniform); and winning the championship with Miami (in 2006).”*