After achieving a three-peat with the late Kobe Bryant, former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal demanded a trade out of the Los Angeles Lakers. Turns out, the All-Star big man almost went to the Dallas Mavericks instead of the Miami Heat.
In 1996, O’Neal signed a groundbreaking contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, a seven-year deal worth $120 million, setting a new record in NBA history. The same year, he contributed to the United States’ Dream Team winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Throughout the late 1990s, O’Neal achieved numerous accolades, including All-NBA Team selections. He earned a place on the All-NBA First Team in 1998 and would be selected to the First Team seven more times from 2000 to 2006. In 2000, O’Neal was honored as the NBA’s Most Valuable Player.
After signing a lucrative three-year, $88.5 million contract extension, O’Neal played a pivotal role in leading the Lakers to three consecutive NBA championships from 2000 to 2002. However, in 2004, due to growing discontent with team management and conflicts with teammate Kobe Bryant, O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat, marking a significant transition in his career.
NBA Legend Shaquille O’neal Shares Trade Demand to Dallas Mavericks After Los Angeles Lakers Stint
In just his second season with the Heat, O’Neal won a ring playing beside Dwyane Wade. The thing is, he almost played with Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks after his stint in Los Angeles. The four-time NBA champion shares more in a video shared by NBA Central on X.
Shaq says he tried to force his way to Dallas, but the Lakers refused to trade him there 😳
(🎥 @bigpodwithshaq / https://t.co/cbcAWsT3AT) pic.twitter.com/hYVWWCAmNT
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 5, 2024
After winning his fourth ring with the Heat, O’Neal bounced around the league until his retirement in 2011. Some of the teams he played for are the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Phoenix Suns. Over the course of his career, the All-Star big man averaged 23.7 points on 58 percent shooting from the field and 52 percent from the free throw line, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.
If O’Neal’s trade demand to Dallas was fulfilled back then, the trajectory of his career, along with that of Nowitzki, might have gone a different route. In any case, the former NBA star still did well in Miami with Wade.
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