Shaquille O'Neal's domination of the National Basketball Association is complete now that the Los Angeles Lakers have won a second consecutive title.
The Lakers beat Philadelphia 108-96 last night to win the best-of-seven NBA Finals 4-1 and win the club's 13th title. O'Neal scored 29 points and pulled down 13 rebounds and was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.
"Winning is important, but having a legacy at the end of his career as to where he ranks with the other great centers that have played this game I'm certain is a matter of self-pride for him," Laker coach Phil Jackson said.
After being swept in his first trip to the finals with Orlando six years ago, critics wrote off Shaq as a big man who could never win the big one, especially with his propensity to miss free throws.
"When people started questioning me, I made a statement that I was going to come back with a vengeance," O'Neal said. "And that's what I did."
O'Neal described himself as a juvenile delinquent as a child, whipped into shape by step-father Phil Harrison, an army sergeant, after his biological father ran out on his mother.
The abnormal size that ostracized him from others as a youth has helped make him a hero as a 29-year-old.
"I don't think he looks at it as being isolated," Bryant said. "In his younger years maybe. But now I think he enjoys it more than anything."
Opponents certainly do not enjoy facing O'Neal.
"He's as good as they get," 76ers coach Larry Brown said. "I have never seen a better player in my life." PA