“It’s an EGO thing” Shaquille O’Neal confessed to starting legendary run with teammate out of spite


“It’s an EGO thing” Shaquille O’Neal confessed to starting legendary run with teammate out of spite

Shaquille O'Neal- IMAGO / UPI Photo

Shaquille O’Neal has made his way back to the NBA headlines as the reason for him parting ways with the Orlando Magic and joining the Los Angeles Lakers has resurfaced on the internet. He has already admitted that he regrets some of his decisions which ruined his relationships both on court and off the court too. Penny Hardaway is surely a name on that list. As he and Shaquille O’Neal could have been the one of the greatest duos ever, but they just didn’t tried to repair the broken bridge between them. And, Big Diesel eventually bounced off to the Lakers.

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Shaquille O'Neal- IMAGO / UPI Photo
Shaquille O’Neal- IMAGO / UPI Photo

Many fans around know Shaquille O’Neal for his legendary run with the Los Angeles Lakers. While he was backed up by Kobe Bryant and the duo went on to become one of the greatest duos ever and still are the last team to three-peat in the league. But Shaquille O’Neal believes things could have been better for him and Penny if they sorted it out and then he would have retired in Orlando itself as he just needed a sidekick to back him up.

As during his interview at “Oprah’s Master Class: The Podcast”, discussing the whole scenario, talks and the money he demanded Shaquille O’Neal quoted: “So we get there we have a beautiful relationship never had a argument, never had a fight. He passes to me I throw it to him. At the end of my four years, Penny’s deal was up. He actually sat out, until they paid him. I was a supporter, ‘hey man, pay the man what he wants.’ So, Penny gets a lot of money.”

Further, Shaquille O’Neal mentioned: “When my deal was up, they didn’t want to give me the money that I wanted and they said it was Penny’s team. So instead of me talking to Penny and asking him what he wanted, ego kicked in a little bit, and then, I tested out free agency and I became a Los Angeles Laker, a team that I watched as a youngster.”

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Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O’Neal

The switch worked well for Shaquille O’Neal as with the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant he got himself a Hall of Fame career with multiple championships, FMVPs, a regular season MVP and several awards, honors and records registered under his name. But still, Diesel knows he could have done it the other way but just didn’t sort out things with Magic and Penny Hardaway.

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Shaquille O’Neal on breaking up with Penny Hardaway

Penny Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal
Penny Hardaway and Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal somewhere still regrets his decision of leaving Penny Hardaway and the Magic squad. As in the same interview discussing his relationship with the guard and the franchise he said: “But I think if would have communicated with him and a little bit more with the organization it would have probably turned out to be different like start in Orlando and end my career in Orlando… So I needed a sidekick and this guy was the perfect one. As he always looks for me and he was a type of player who always liked to pass before it was to shoot.”

Further, Shaq mentioned: “We never had a problem on the court we never had a argument. It was awesome. I kinda hate that it ended the way it did… But I just felt that when I demanded my money I just didn’t get the same support…ego can get you in trouble.” Penny didn’t really support his big guy like he should have and it just ruined it all. But it’s unfair to blame any of them as they never spoke out on it and didn’t even care to communicate once their ego came in between.

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