Shaquille O'Neal is widely acknowledged as one of the most dominant players in NBA history, amassing a Hall of Fame-worthy career over 19 seasons in the world's premier basketball league.
Standing at 7 feet 1 inch and weighing 325 pounds, O'Neal clinched four NBA championships and earned the Finals MVP title in three of them.
Which is the best of the best teams Shaq has played for; here are their rankings:
6. Phoenix Suns
While acquiring O'Neal might be deemed a smart move for many teams, given his status as one of the best players in NBA history, this trade proved detrimental for the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns acquired O'Neal before the February 2008 trade deadline, giving up Shawn Marion, a vital piece of their core, and Marcus Banks.
Phoenix had previously revolutionized the league with their fast-paced, seven-second or less offense, but they weren't able to win a championship with it. Critics noted they needed a traditional big man to succeed in the postseason.
However, the Suns were eliminated in the first round of the 2008 playoffs and did not make the postseason the year after.
5. Boston Celtics
Although Shaq had a minimal impact on the team, the 2010-11 Celtics were coming off a close loss in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals.
O'Neal's decision to join the Celtics was largely motivated by a desire to match Kobe Bryant's championship count, as Bryant had recently surpassed him.
After topping the East through the All-Star break, the Celtics dropped to third by the end of the regular season.
Still, they managed to sweep the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs before facing elimination at the hands of the Miami Heat with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
O'Neal spent the 2009-10 season in Cleveland, led by star LeBron James. They finished with the best record in the entire NBA for the second straight season, with huge expectations for an NBA title.
Shaq had taken a significantly lesser role compared to his prior stints, choosing to defer to James, who was already arguably the league's best player at that time.
After a strong showing throughout the year, the Cavs were upset by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2010 playoffs, ultimately leading to a disappointing summer where James left the team for the Heat.
3. Orlando Magic
O'Neal took the league by storm after being drafted by the Orlando Magic with the first overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft.
He dominated right away from day 1, winning the 1993 NBA Rookie of the Year, and was voted a starter in the All-Star game. His partnership with guard Penny Hardaway made the Magic competitive throughout the next few years.
Shaq led the Magic to a Finals appearance in 1995 and four years into his professional career in 1996, he was already named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
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2. Miami Heat
At the tail end of his prime, O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004 after a highly publicized feud with former teammate Kobe Bryant.
During his first season in Miami, Shaq had an outstanding year, narrowly losing the 2005 NBA MVP award to Steve Nash in one of the closest MVP races ever.
He also won his fourth championship in 2006, but young guard Dwyane Wade carried the load for the Heat.
1. Los Angeles Lakers
The pinnacle of Shaq's career was spent under the bright lights of Los Angeles with the Lakers. After signing as a free agent in 1996, the big man led the Lakers to three straight NBA championships at the start of the new millennium in 2000.
O'Neal won Finals MVP in all the championship runs during their three-peat, forming one of the best partnerships of all time with Kobe Bryant.
He also won his sole NBA Most Valuable Player award wearing the purple-and-gold in 2000.
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