When Shaquille O'Neal had the LA Times publish full-page advertisement thanking Lakers Nation: "You have been there with me through it all"
When Shaquille O'Neal had the LA Times publish full-page advertisement thanking Lakers Nation: "You have been there with me through it all" originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Turning free agent ahead of the 1996-97 season, Shaquille O'Neal had a tough call to make. The 1993 ROTY could either continue his four-year association with the Orlando Magic or represent a bigger market like the Los Angeles Lakers that had just drafted Kobe Bryant.
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Famously describing his Orlando situation as a big fish in a small, dried-up pond, Shaq signed a seven-year, $121M contract with the Lakers. A decision that the Louisiana State University product would never regret, establishing himself as the most dominant center to play the game.
Donning the 'Purple and Gold,' Shaq played eight seasons for the Lakers between 1996-2004. Delivering three titles to the city of Los Angeles, the 'Big Diesel' was Finals MVP every time. Completing the 3-peat in 2002, the following years were nothing short of a soap opera.
The internal tensions reached a point where a decision was made to trade Shaq to the Miami Heat. Bidding farewell to the Lakers fans, the fifteen-time All-Star issued a full-page advertisement in the LA Times, which stated, 'I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your incredible support over the last eight years. I am moving on to the next chapter in my career, but I will never forget the support that you gave me,' the article mentioned.
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The message further stated, 'I will miss each and every one of you. You have been there with me through it all. We never could have won any of the championships without you.' The ad included a picture of Shaq gripping the basketball in one hand.
Locker room tensions
The friction between Shaq and Kobe was more than evident, with the two superstars not shying away from taking digs at each other publicly. After the 3-peat in 2002, reports surrounding the seven-foot center's unprofessionalism began doing the rounds. Whether it was his reduced efforts in practice, dealing with injuries, or lacking the required conditioning.
On the other end, there was Kobe's Mamba Mentality, which paved the way for friction between the two Lakers teammates. This was heightened courtesy of them not winning the chip in the coming two years. Eventually, a call was made to trade Shaq, breaking the tandem and marking the end of an era. Nonetheless, the former teammates would bury the hatchet during the 2009 All-Star Game when they were named Co-MVPs.
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Related: "I think it's a waste of time" - Tracy McGrady explains why it's pointless for young players to play in the G-League
Getting his statue
In 2017, the Lakers honored Shaq's contributions to the franchise with a bronze statue of him dunking. The statue ceremony had greats like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Phil Jackson and the late Kobe Bryant in attendance. Marking an emotional moment for the O'Neal family.
During his tenure with the Lakers, Shaq averaged 27.0 points, 11.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks on 57.5 percent shooting from the field. The veteran center helped the franchise make it to four NBA Finals, winning three of them, with his unparalleled dominance setting a new precedent.
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Related: "I can't get so close to it, too, because of my competitive nature" - Michael Jordan on why he can't get himself to be a fan of any one player in the NBA
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
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