“I just got tired of failing and getting swept” Shaquille O’Neal reveals how Michael Jordan and Jerry West helped him to become a champion

Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal and Jerry West

Shaquille O’Neal, a Hall of Famer, is known for his extroverted and lively attitude. Throughout his long career, he gained the hearts of millions of admirers. Even Shaq had to face several obstacles in his early days. During a recent PBD Podcast interview, O’Neal discussed how tough it was to stay focused after being eliminated in the playoffs initially in his career.

In his 19-year career Shaq has received the 1999-2000 MVP award, the 1992-93 NBA Rookie of the Year award, 15 All-Star game selections, three All-Star Game MVP awards, three Finals MVP awards, two scoring titles, 14 All-NBA team selections, and three NBA All-Defensive Team selections. He is one of just three players in NBA history to earn NBA MVP, All-Star Game MVP, and Finals MVP in the same season. He is seventh all-time in points scored, fifth in field goals, thirteenth in rebounds, and seventh in blocks. O’Neal is third all-time in field goal percentage (58.2%), owing largely to his ability to dunk in the game.

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Shaquille O’Neal on invaluable advice from Jerry West and Michael Jordan

Shaquille O’Neal discussed the failed advice he received from Michael Jordan and Jerry West in the podcast, he said “So we used to get swept all the time and most of the blowback came on me, which I was fine with it, but just you know, at some point I got tired of hearing it because Michael Jordan told me after they swept us, ‘before you succeed, you must first learn to fail.’ And I just got tired of failing.”

Shaquille O’Neal further added: “So, one time we got swept by the Spurs and I went in the bathroom and I ripped up all the toilets, all the urinals. There was shit flying everywhere… and Jerry West came in there and he grabbed me and he was strong as hell too and he put me up against the wall and said ‘calm down’. I’m like I’m tired of losing.” Between 1962 and 1973, West’s Los Angeles Lakers reached the NBA Finals nine times. He concluded his career with a 1-8 finals record, which remains the worst in NBA history. So, Shaquille O’Neal was taken aback when he learned about West’s experience during his playing days.

Shaquille O’Neal went on to say how gratifying it was for West to want him to join his squad. West outlined his concept for O’Neal to team up with freshly acquired rookie Kobe Bryant. He described how the two of them would lead the Lakers to several championships. West also informed him that he may one day join Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in having his jersey retired.

Everyone wants fast gratification in today’s game, and it sometimes takes a wakeup call to place things in perspective. Shaquille O’Neal was clearly under a lot of pressure to win a championship, and he was sick of losing to the exact same teams year after year. He was, however, still young and had a lot of space to grow. Following West’s counsel, O’Neal won four NBA titles and completed his career with a 4-2.

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