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Is Shaq The Greatest Ever?

Authored by Kenneth Watkins - June 9, 2005 - 3:47 am

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I'm not one to throw around the greatest ever player title unless you really impress me, and Shaq has done that. After being drafted number one by the Orlando Magics , Shaq has always been a star no matter where he has played. He has led two different teams to The NBA Finals, winning three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Shaq and fellow teammate Kobe Bryant had a very rocky realtionship as players during his stay with the Lakers. You could compare the realtionship to a dysfunctional family with each wanting things done his own way. For Shaq's part he was mostly quiet about things and you have to respect him for that.

Besides his huge 7'1 height and 350 frame Shaq always played hard and had that smile that would light up any kid's life or person who was having a bad day. His enormous talent has made every team he's been on a championship caliber team. Now isn't that the mart of a great player.

To be a great player their is so much more than just winning championships, their has to be a human side too and Shaq has that too. During Christmas time Shaq rents a semi-trailer and fills it with toys and becomes Shaq-Claus to underprivileged kids in poor Laos Angeles neighborhoods.

Just, when I thought Shaq could top that he does one better. Shaq has always show respect to the players who came before him, this comes from his up bringing and the value his parents made sure he learned. Shaq met George Mikan during the 50 greatest NBA Players Of All Time. Shaq got to know him a little and was thrilled to learn more about the first real big man.

Unfortunately George Mikan passed away last week and Shaq heard the family was having trouble paying for funeral expenses. So, who stepped up to help out Shaq of course. Shaq paid for everything as a token of the upmost respect for one of the greatest players in NBA history.

Sometimes you can't measure a player's greatness by his numbers of rings on his fingers or his stats when he played. Heart sometimes means just as much and Shaq has a big one.