Ringless LeBron James’ privileges shocked 4-time champion teammate Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O'Neal played alongside LeBron James on the 2009-10 Cleveland Cavaliers team in an attempt to win his fifth NBA title.

Ringless LeBron James’ privileges shocked 4-time champion teammate Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O'Neal was stunned by privileges LeBron James enjoyed

Shaquille O’Neal won four NBA titles with both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat. Later in his career, he was still looking to win a fifth. That led the most dominant player in the history of the league to seek out moves to multiple teams, one of which had LeBron James in it.

He first moved to the Phoenix Suns, but the experiment of playing in a different system did not work out. The Suns wanted to add other pieces, but O’Neal’s contract was a roadblock. That prompted them to trade him to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

O’Neal was still looking for a fifth ring, and pairing with the best young player yet to win a title was a recipe he had success with before. When he landed in Cleveland, he was expecting a massive welcome, just like how the Miami Heat did when he arrived from the Los Angeles Lakers.

But there was no such fanfare as the Cavaliers were set on building a championship team. O’Neal knew that he would have to defer to LeBron James, considering he was the clear leader of that team for the past seven seasons. However, O’Neal did not expect the privileges a still ringless James enjoyed.

I was super impressed when I got to Cleveland with LeBron. LeBron already had that s**t under control. This motherf***er was a true leader. He was doing sh*t I never did. Like he got to bring his family on the plane. I was like, ‘Damn’.

Shaquille O’Neal said

Dwight Howard, who has also played with James on the 2020 Bubble championship-winning Los Angeles Lakers team, agreed with the Big Aristotle. They both understood that the Akron native had the authority that only a few could dream of.

LeBron James still enjoys certain privileges, unlike other players

Shaquille O’Neal was surprised that LeBron James could fly his family on the team plane, when he could not, despite having won four titles. That power is something only a few players in the league have ever enjoyed.

Michael Jordan could dictate the terms of how he wanted something to be done. James, as his heir apparent as the face of the NBA, had that power and could dictate matters even before winning his first NBA title. Now, at age 40, he still enjoys some perks that others do not.

For instance, Stephen Curry has also won four titles and is viewed as one of the most popular basketball players in the world. Whenever his wife and kids want to cheer him, they enjoy courtside or VIP seats. But they have not been spotted making their way to the tunnel after the game.

The now Los Angeles Lakers superstar’s wife, Savannah James, always makes it a point to head to the tunnel near the end of every game. She knows her husband will want to greet her before he enters the locker room. Luka Doncic, his possible heir to the Face of the NBA throne, does not enjoy that luxury yet.

Shaquille O’Neal rues not winning a title with the King

With the Cleveland Cavaliers, Shaquille O’Neal was in a good position to win his fifth NBA title. They were 1st in the East at the end of February, 2010. But then, he suffered a thumb injury, which saw him miss games up until the playoffs. O’Neal told Shams Charania years later that the injury derailed a title shot.

When I was in Cleveland, we were in first place. Big Baby (Glen Davis) breaks my hand and I had to sit out five weeks late in the year. I come back finally in the first round of the playoffs, and we lost to Boston in the second round. I was upset. I know for a fact if I was healthy, we would have gotten it done that year and won a ring.

Shaquille O’Neal said

By his own admission, a healthy O’Neal could have helped the Cleveland Cavaliers fight for the title. Had he not missed those games, he would have stayed in rhythm. That could have avoided the second-round defeat to the Boston Celtics.

But it was not to be, and O’Neal left to join those very Celtics, trying to win a fifth title to match Kobe Bryant. On the other hand, LeBron James won his first NBA title, he might not have left the Cavaliers to sign with the Miami Heat.

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