“Win a Ring for the King”: When Even Shaquille O’Neal Was Determined in Helping LeBron James Win His First NBA Championship

Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal has played with some of the best players in the history of the NBA. He played with Kobe Bryant back in the later 90s, early 2000s, and achieved a three-peat with him. Then he went to Miami, where he played with Dwyane Wade and also won a championship with him. Then on his last legs, he joined the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009, to play with another all-time great, LeBron James.

Sadly for Shaq, his time with LeBron was not successful in comparison. But when Shaq arrived in Cleveland, it was a big deal. LeBron was carrying the team all by himself, once to the NBA Finals, and another time to the Conference Finals, but the ring seemed out of hand. So Mike Brown and the Cavs decided to trade for O’Neal, who had won four rings, to bring the championship DNA to Cleveland.

Shaquille O’Neal: Too old to help LeBron James?

During his first press conference, Shaq made his intentions very clear. “My motto is very simple. Win a Ring for the King. It’s LeBron’s team,” he said. “He’s the captain. This is the time in my career where I can fit in. I’m now in the security business. My job is to protect the King, and that’s what I’m here to do.

“I have a lot left. There (are) only four or five good centers in the league and I’m in that number. … I’ve been in it (the NBA) for 17 years, but I’ve missed three years because of injury. If you do the math, I’ve still got three years left. You got that?”

But Shaq was past his prime. He may have made the All-Star game the previous season, but at the Cavs, he wasn’t very effective. He had the worst statistical performance he ever had, averaging career lows in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

LeBron James had an MVP season and carried the Cavs to the first seed in the East with 61 wins. But the team couldn’t replicate the performance in the playoffs. They reached the Conference Semifinals but then lost to the Boston Celtics in six games.

As the season ended, Shaq’s contract was up. He then left for Boston to try to win one more ring. LeBron’s contract had expired too, so he made ‘The Decision’ to leave his home team. He joined the Miami Heat to finally get his hands on a title.