Memphis Tigers coach Penny Hardaway has it made. 4X NBA All-Star, 2x All-NBA First Team selections, and more accolades, the champ rolled out his best during his prime and continues the same as a coach for his team. Despite having the career that most NBA players dream of, Hardaway still has one regret because of Shaquille O’Neal. Like Hardaway, many critics and fans believe the Orlando Magic might have won a championship had O’Neal stayed with the team.

Expressing this same sentiment, Hardaway revealed his one regret of his career. It is not winning a championship title. He mentioned that O’Neal’s departure created a void that was hard for the team to recover from while competing for the championship.

“I wanted to win a Championship. I felt like our Championship run was cut short when Shaq went from us to the Lakers and I knew that was going to be devastating but you lose a guy of that magnitude but the only thing that I regret is not winning a championship,” Hardaway said on the Let’s Be Clear Podcast.

Hardaway recalled that he didn’t know about O’Neal leaving the team. He found out through the media when he was at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. While speaking to the media, he was asked about his opinion on his teammate O’Neal leaving the team. O’Neal told him about the deal after it was official. The same year, the 4x NBA champ joined the Los Angeles Lakers to team up with Kobe Bryant for $120 million.

Just like Hardaway, O’Neal also regrets his run with Orlando Magic. The Orlando Magic beat one of their most formidable rivals, Michael Jordan and the Bulls, in the second round. And finally made it to the Finals but couldn’t clinch the title and lost to the Houston Rockets.

What does Shaquille O’Neal think about his chances of winning the title with the Orlando Magic?

While there are many other reasons, O’Neal believes that his extreme celebrative mood ruined their chances. He stated that he got too confident and kept partying. In The Big Podcast, the Los Angeles Lakers legend admitted that a few bad habits and a lack of discipline prevented them from winning.

“So the next game, I was tired. We played well, we got up to a good start, and then something happened at the end. But once we lost that momentum, it was hard to get back. I blame myself for us not getting that first championship,” Shaq said on the podcast.

The ‘Big Aristotle’ was selected as the No. 1 overall by the Orlando Magic in 1992. And after 32 years, the franchise decided to honor the legend by retiring his jersey no. 32. Regardless, O’Neal’s contribution to the team has made an impact on the franchise.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.