Shaquille O’Neal and threes: The story behind NBA’s ‘Most Dominant’ scoring only one three-pointer

A closer look at the unlikely three-pointer of the seven foot giant

Shaquille O’Neal and threes: The story behind NBA’s ‘Most Dominant’ scoring only one three-pointer

Shaquille O'Neal's only three-pointer (via YouTube)

In a career filled with slam dunks, powerful blocks, and dominant post moves, Shaquille O’Neal’s three-point shooting is a tale of rarity. On February 16, 1996, during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, O’Neal did something he had never done before and would never do again in his NBA career: he scored a three-pointer for the Orlando Magic.

With just two seconds left in the first quarter, O’Neal caught a long pass from Joe Wolf, positioned himself five feet beyond the arc, and launched the ball with one hand. Miraculously, the ball banked off the glass and swooshed through the net as the buzzer sounded.

YouTube video

This three-pointer was an anomaly in Shaquille O’Neal’s career. Known for his physical dominance in the paint, Shaq attempted only 22 three-pointers in his 19-season career, making just this single one.

FS Video

His game was built around his strength and size, making him one of the most formidable centers and arguably the most dominant one in NBA history. O’Neal’s focus was always on scoring from close range, grabbing rebounds, and blocking shots, rather than shooting from the perimeter.

O’Neal’s single three-pointer stands as a unique moment in his illustrious career. It serves as a reminder of his versatility, even if it was not a regular part of his game. Shaq’s career was marked by numerous accolades, including MVP titles and NBA championships, but his three-point shot remains a memorable, albeit unusual, highlight.

Why Shaquille O’Neal wouldn’t shoot threes even if he played in modern-day NBA?

The NBA has evolved significantly since Shaquille O’Neal’s era, with a notable shift towards three-point shooting. Today, the game expects even big men to have a decent three-point shot. However, in his prime, O’Neal represented a different breed of center, grounding his game in physicality rather than finesse from beyond the arc.

Shaquille O’Neal and Stephen Curry
Shaq recently put Steph Curry over himself in the GOAT conversation (Associated Press)

Even though he has repeatedly declared Stephen Curry, the advocate of the three-point shot and the primary cause for the changing shooting trends in the NBA, as his favorite player to watch, Shaq has expressed that he would not have changed his style of play to include three-point shooting. He had this to say in a Cosmote TV interview about his approach to the three-point shot:

I would never shoot a three-pointer. All those tall shooters, they weren’t even in the game because against me, they would have had two fouls on a good night, and they wouldn’t have shot. I would take the ball and make easy baskets.

Shaquille O’Neal on three-pointers

Beyond scoring, Shaquille O’Neal’s impact on the game was profound. His physical presence changed the way centers played in the NBA. He was a force to be reckoned with, altering the strategies of opposing teams and often requiring double or triple teams to contain him.

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