Image via Complex Original
Last week Shaquille O'Neal completed his 18th season in the NBA on a less than stellar note. And while wear and tear has reduced the Big Diesel to an injury-prone vet, off the court, he's still arguably the most recognizable NBA player since MJ. The 15-time All-Star has been in blockbuster films, endless commercials, sold millions of records, and dude changes his nickname whenever he feels like it. So, no matter how much his hardwood skills have diminished, O'Neal stays relevant. As an ode to what should most definitely could possibly be the end of Shaq's glorious career, we present Shaquille O'Neal's 10 Best Pop Culture Moments...
"Reebok Shaq Attaqs"
DATE: Rookie Year, 1992
COMPLEX SAYS: Reebok was his first sneaker contract before he started making those made-for-Payless atrocities he calls sneakers. These were kind of fresh and had some classic commercials to go along with them. If you ever come across these in good condition, holla at cha boy. Sidebar: Damn, what happened to Reebok? #bringtheseback
"Your Favorite Rapper's Favorite Baller"
DATE: 10/7/1993
COMPLEX SAYS: "(I Know I Got) Skillz" was the first single from Shaq's debut album, Shaq Diesel, which went on to sell over one million copies and got O'Neal co-signs from Biggie and Jigga. He followed that up with Shaq Fu: Da Return which was certified gold. Perhaps it's faint praise (okay, it's definitely faint praise), but the Man of Steel is the best athlete turned rapper of all time—just ask Kobe.
"Shaq-Fu"
DATE: 10/28/1994
COMPLEX SAYS: Do. Not. Lie. If you're older than 20, you used to rock this shit. This game was so wack and it seemed to be some sort of Mortal Kombat bootleg, but back in the mid-'90s anything with Shaq's likeness could be sold. If you're still looking to cop, eBay got it for cheap.
"Kazaam"
DATE: 7/17/1996
COMPLEX SAYS: Although Shaq's big screen debut was alongside Nick Nolte in Blue Chips, his breakout role came in Kazaam. Never mind how bad this movie was, give him props for being able to star in a movie. And the fact that he came out of a boombox and started busting raps automatically makes it tolerable. Shaq loves the kids!
"Curb Your Enthusiasm"
DATE: 11/11/2001
COMPLEX SAYS: We're just gonna come out and say it: Whoever won the 2002 Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (N.B.: it was Anthony LaPaglia in Frasier) stole something from Shaq...namely the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series! On the reals, you see your man writhing on the floor? Marlon Brando got nothing on that performance!
"Scary Movie 4"
DATE: 4/14/2006
COMPLEX SAYS: By far the best scene in Scary Movie 4, Shaq and Dr. Phil are Saw's next victims and the only way for them to survive is if O'Neal can make a free throw. SMH, they never had a chance. Fuck it, at least he took Dr. Phil with him. #thankyoubasedgod
"Shaq Goes Raw"
DATE: 7/27/2009
COMPLEX SAYS: You know you've arrived as a pop culture icon when you do WWE. Everyone from Iron Mike to Donald Trump has made appearances in the squared circle. The Big Shaqtus was guest host on RAW and got into it with Chris Jericho and the Big Show (is that moniker even applicable standing next to Shaq?), challenging them to a tag team match vs. Cryme Tyme and dubbing himself Cryme's "ringside enforcer." The ridiculousness of WWE storylines X Shaq Daddy = Awesomeness.
"Shaq vs. Michael Phelps"
DATE: 9/15/2009
COMPLEX SAYS: On his popular Shaq Vs. TV series, O'Neal dons a Speedo (*shudders*) and races, with a head start, against the world's all-time swim champ, Michael Phelps. The wager? If Shaq wins, Phelps has to say, "Shaq is the best" on TV and if Phelps wins, Shaq has to do synchronized swimming. Long story short, Shaq lost but as a consolation prize Phelps smoked him out afterward. We kid.
"The Big Ground and Pound"
DATE: 8/28/2010
COMPLEX SAYS: The Diesel can fight and is quite "bout it, bout it, rowdy, rowdy." Shaq has been training in boxing, jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and wrestling, and plans to open a can of Shaq-Fu on Hong-Man Choi's ass once he retires. Word? That shit would be epic, like Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah epic.
"Bieber Fever"
DATE: 8/31/2010
COMPLEX SAYS: The Biebs vs. Shaq Daddy. JB vs. Superman. The Biebernator vs. The Big Aristotle. These two dudes have the most nicknames in the history of celebs. Here, O'Neal beats Bieber and his crew in a good ol' fashioned breakdance battle. Bieber got the best of him on the b-ball court, though. Don't front, you know you don't want to see J-Biebs on the hardwood.