Ronnie B's Big Ups Player of the Week

"..that is the only thing that slows me down is the system. No one, two or three was big enough to slow me down, only the system. It was the system that slowed me down to make my numbers fall. Not because I am older." - 32

I don’t know if you’ve noticed lately or not, but Shaquille O’Neal is one of the biggest human beings to walk the face of this earth. I also don’t know if you noticed or not lately, but he is on his way back to putting up numbers the old Shaq was used to putting up. I’m talking about the old Shaq that co-wrote (with Jack McCallum) an autobiography, “Shaq Attaq!,” depicting his early life through the NBA draft and his first couple of seasons with the Orlando Magic that defined his way to stardom. I’m talking about this 7’1” 325 pound monstrosity of a man from Louisiana State, The Shaq that put up 21.8 points and almost 14 boards a game, which are very impressive numbers keeping in mind Patrick Patterson is having a hell of a season and putting up 18 and 9. I’m talking about the man that made Glen “Big Baby” Davis look like a fetus in a yellow and purple jersey. Shaq is a Big Deal. Pun intended.
- After a great start in the league, Shaq may have plateaued, but never dropped below mediocre. The Magic, Lakers, and Heat have all benefited from Shaq’s presence. The Magic drafted Shaq number 1 overall in order to build a franchise around him. O'Neal was the first rookie to be voted an All-Star starter since Michael Jordan in 1985.* The Magic soon added to the fire by acquiring Penny Hardaway making the duo the most feared in the NBA. Shaq "west coasted" it and moved to Los Angeles in a trade to the Lakers in '96 and would combine with Kobe and eventually win 3 consecutive NBA Championships. What is even more baffling, Shaq was awarded the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player honor 3 consecutive times during that run. Shaq’s road in history changed paths when he was traded to Miami in 2004. Shaq teamed up with D. Wade and soon became, yet again, a part of the most dominate duo in the game. They didn’t surprise when Shaq, Wade, and the Heat won the 2006 NBA Championships. Shaq was troubled with distractions during 2007. A divorce from wife, Shaunie, and a crumbling relationship in Miami. Things were getting cold and since diesels run better in warm temps, Shaq moved it out to Phoenix to play for the Suns. Putting aside two mediocre seasons in, Shaq has found a resurgence of energy this year in Phoenix. Averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds in December, Shaq has turned it on these past 3 games grabbing at least 9 boards and 20 points in each game.
- Shaq’s game might not be about putting up 54 points in a game, maybe like Jodie Meeks, but its about being reliable, his game is about consistently pushing his team forward, like a diesel engine is designed, in warm or cold weather, through thick and thin everyone can rely on the Shaq Diesel. Not even making and releasing the smash box office flick featuring a 7 foot genie sporting the name "Kazaam" could hamper his career and that’s why he is Ronnie B’s Big Ups Player of the Week.


*Wikipedia

- rbk