“Jerry [West] Hung Up the Phone”: Shaquille O’Neal’s $100 Million Truth Bomb on Lakers Ruffled Some Feathers in 1996 (Exclusive)

You could be the literal silhouette of the NBA but even that didn’t make Jerry West immune to Big Diesel’s big demands. West made some memorable decisions as the Los Angeles Lakers GM, none more important than creating the partnership that won the franchise’s three-peat at the turn of the century. The lead-up to it was under intense scrutiny, though. Bringing Shaquille O’Neal to Los Angeles wasn’t as easy as offering a $121 million check. West had to give Shaq a lot more incentive and put a lot at risk. In an exclusive sit-down with EssentiallySports, Leonard Armato disclosed that if it was not for Jerry West, O’Neal wouldn’t have left Orlando.

Armato was Shaq’s agent from 1992 until his first championship. He also had a past friendship with West since he handled Kareem Abdul-Jabbar before. He was at the center of that blockbuster deal that brought Shaq to the Lakers in 1996. Armato told Vishal Kolar that Shaq’s first decision was to stay with the Orlando Magic. But like any savvy agent, he wanted to get his client a deal of his worth. To Armato’s shock, they offered a low $54 million.

Armato: “When that happened, Shaq said to me, ‘Look, go see if there’s anything else out there.’ The minute that were permitted under the collective bargaining agreement to contact me, Jerry West called me.”

As per Armato, West expressed the organization’s keenness to get Shaq on the team. So Armato asked for the best offer. West had traded George Lynch to free up cap space to offer Shaq $96 million. That was not good enough after O’Neal was expecting a $20 million/season salary across four or five years.

Armato: “I said to him, ‘Look, Jerry $96 million won’t get it done because Alonzo Mourning just signed a $100 million agreement and Shaq is better than Alonzo Mourning. So yeah, just from a respect standpoint, he’s got to get more than that.’ And so Jerry hung up the phone.”

The Logo didn’t take it as a rejection. He got back to Armato with an even better offer.

Jerry West made Shaquille O’Neal an irresistible offer

As much as Shaq was attached to Orlando, he knew his worth too. Alonzo Mourning, who split Shaq’s ROTY vote 96-2 was his biggest rival. Mourning took Charlotte to the playoffs during his rookie season. But afterwards, Shaq took Orlando Magic to the Finals. Mourning would become the first player to sign a contract in excess of $100 million when the Miami Heat sealed a $105 million deal with him in 1996. If he ruined Shaq’s unanimous ROTY win, O’Neal ensured Mourning would be out-salaried.

Magic and Orlando residents, through an insulting poll, made it obvious Shaq won’t be paid that much. West traded Vlade Divac and & an $8.5 million salary to Sacramento, freeing up salary space. He upped his offer to $121 million, which Armato conveyed to O’Neal.

Armato: “I told Shaquille $121 million, we will be the highest-paid player in the NBA. He said, ‘That sounds great. Let’s do it.'”  

Thus, Shaquille O’Neal became the highest-paid NBA player that season and on the championship path in Los Angeles. Mr Clutch lived up to his reputation even in trades.