Shaq played for the Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics after leaving the Lakers in 2004. (Photo courtesy of Keith Allison/ Creative Commons).

In his soon-to-be-released tell-all book Shaq Uncut: My Story, co-written by Jackie MacMullan, Shaq takes shots at former teammates, coaches, owners and managers, possibly crossing the line in a sign of vulnerability. 

Ever since Shaq joined the NBA in 1992, he’s always been at the forefront of the public eye. Whether it’s rap albums, music videos, movie roles, dance contests, TV shows, or All-Star games, Shaq has always found a way to stand out from the pack. 

Standing 7-feet-1, and visibly over 325 lbs., Shaq doesn’t need to do much to stand out, though. Add the fact that he played in the NBA and is considered to be one of the greatest players of all time, it’s perplexing as to what Shaq’s motives are with his constant shots at former teams and players. 

The apparent value to publicly discussing his relationship with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Pat Riley is to boost book sales. That, of course, is Shaq’s No. 1 goal. He wants to spread the word of the book’s content, garner some buzz, and sell a lot of copies. 

But, he is taking it a little too far? Could he be using this book as a way to make amends with his own shattered ego? 

In an excerpt from the book, Shaq recounts wanting to kill Kobe after the point guard told Jim Gray that Shaq was fat, out of shape and milking his toe injury. The story has been confirmed as true, but the way O’Neal paints the picture is clearly biased. 

Especially in the time of lockout, where there is little to no actual basketball news other than Basketball Related Income and revenue sharing, anything related to Shaq and Kobe’s rocky disputes in Los Angeles will garner media attention. It’s only natural for Shaq to disrespect his ‘rival’ in his tell-all book. 

But Shaq doesn’t only attack Kobe. No one is safe in this book. 

Other excerpts depict Pat Riley as a heartless dictator that only cares about his own agenda, willing to throw Heat point guard Jason Williams out of practice for ‘merely’ showing up late. 

Shaq went on to say he stood up for Williams and almost got into a physical altercation with Riley, pushing Alonzo Mourning and Udonis Haslem out of the way like “rag dolls.” 

Once again, Shaq comes off looking like the hero, using his brute force to effortlessly push one of NBA’s toughest players and his courage to stand face-to-face with arguably the NBA’s most influential coach. 

His relationship with LeBron James is brought up as well, although Shaq is actually complimentary in this case, saying he felt James was mature beyond his years, “got it”, and didn’t need his guidance. 

But Shaq can’t say something nice without taking a dig, so he says former Cleveland Cavaliers’ coach Mike Brown spoiled LaBron by letting him do as he pleased, and questions if Brown can handle Kobe’s ego and demands in L.A. 

Superstar players and coaches aren’t his only targets, though. No, Shaq is going off on everybody. Shaq calls out Glen “Big Baby” Davis for being selfish for not looking inside and passing him the ball on multiple occasions. I’m sure he criticizes the ball boys as well for not correctly passing him the ball in warm-ups. 

In a report today by the Los Angeles Times’ Mark Medina, Shaq takes a shot at Lakers’ General Manager Mitch Kupchak, saying he promised Shaq a contract extension but never delivered. 

The recurring trend, of course, is someone screwing over Shaq, and him being the bigger man in the situation and walking away. 

Nothing and no one is off limits in Shaq Uncut: My Story. Anyone can feel the wrath of Shaq. That’s how he has lived his life thus far, and that’s how he played his 19-year NBA career. 

If this book tells us anything, it’s that Shaq isn’t actually bigger than life, as he tries to act. 

He’s just like the rest of us; he loves attention, is sensitive and insecure, embellishes the past and can hold grudges. 

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