Why Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t feeling great with the Celtics

Shaquille O’Neal accomplished virtually everything a star can as a 15-time All-Star and three-time NBA Finals champion during a 19-year career that ended with the Boston Celtics.

O’Neal joined the Celtics for the 2010–11 NBA season, averaging 9.2 points in 37 games before retiring. While Boston landed a legend, the now 52-year-old lived an uncomfortable reality of ending his playing days.

“I’m not ‘him,’” O’Neal told NBA analyst JJ Redick “The Old Man and the Three” Podcast. “’Him’ is 28 (points) and 10 (rebounds). (Expletive) averaged nine points in Boston. It felt like I was robbing the people. I felt so bad when they called me back and said, ‘Hey man. We owe you $1.5 (million).” I said, ‘(expletive) save it.’”

Injuries and a lack of All-Star votes surrounded the 7-foot-1 star, who saw his career end at the end of his age-38 season. O’Neal spent that final year with the Celtics after a long career with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers.

O’Neal continues to have a prominent role in the NBA with TNT’s studio crew as the Celtics continue the hunt for Banner 18.