Imagine making a single decision in your career, one that changes everything. For Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal, one such decision became one of his biggest career regrets, especially during the era when NBA coaching icon Phil Jackson was at the helm.
A defining moment in O’Neal’s career came in the early 2000s. He was in peak form, having already earned MVP honors and a Rookie of the Year award in the 1990s. But one decision from that period remains his biggest regret to this day.
With Jackson as head coach, O’Neal played a pivotal role in the Lakers’ success. He led the league in field goal percentage across multiple seasons and was instrumental in guiding the team to three straight NBA championships from 1999 to 2001. But following that historic run, O’Neal faced a difficult personal decision—one centered around a nagging toe injury.
In his autobiography, Shaq Uncut: My Story, O’Neal opened up about choosing to focus on his toe issues rather than pushing for a potential four-peat with the Lakers. It was during that time that Jackson approached him, and O’Neal later admitted it was the biggest regret of his career.
NBA legend Phil Jackson during his second tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Shaquille O’Neal reveals the biggest regret of his career
In his book, O’Neal opened up about a pivotal conversation he had with then-head coach Jackson. Jackson urged him to undergo a more serious procedure on his toe to prolong his playing career. “He told me, ‘If you get this done right, you can play until you’re forty.’ I wish I had listened to him,” O’Neal wrote.
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“Jackson was pushing me to have the more involved surgery,” O’Neal recalled. “He could tell my toe was so painful and stiff that it was affecting my lift, and I was putting too much strain on the rest of my body.“
Why O’Neal chose a less invasive option
Despite Jackson’s advice, O’Neal revealed the real reason behind his decision. “I was too nervous about being out for six months, especially since the Lakers were stalling on the extension we had been negotiating,” he explained. “So I went with the surgery that would keep me out just three months.”
That decision marked the beginning of the end of his time with the Lakers. It wasn’t just the surgery itself, but the timing of it that played a major role. Looking back, Shaq believes that if he had followed Jackson’s guidance, he could have extended his career by several more years.
Shaq’s final seasons with the Lakers
O’Neal spent only two more seasons with the Lakers following the surgery. Though he remained a dominant presence, his performances didn’t match the towering standards fans had come to expect from him.
After returning to the lineup, these were the stats he posted in his final season in Los Angeles:
- Games Played (GP): 67
- Minutes Per Game (MPG): 36.8
- Points Per Game (PPG): 21.5
- Rebounds Per Game (RPG): 11.5
- Assists Per Game (APG): 2.9
- Steals Per Game (SPG): 0.5
- Blocks Per Game (BPG): 2.5
- Field Goal Percentage (FG%): .584
- Free Throw Percentage (FT%): .490
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Did O'Neal's decision cost him a place in the GOAT debate?
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