Crowned NBA champion for the last time in 2006, Shaquille O’Neal nevertheless continued his career until 2011. He therefore crossed paths with the Heatles of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade on the floor, and split a cheeky statement about them.

When fans embark on a retrospective of his career, many of them logically focus on his stints with the Magic and the Lakers. It must be said that it was undoubtedly during these periods that Shaquille O’Neal proved to be the most dominant in the NBA. However, his little journey in the league did not stop there, and notably saw him make several less conclusive and memorable freelances.

Shaquille O’Neal, terror of LeBron and D-Wade’s Heatles?

Before hanging up his sneakers, O’Neal had the chance to collaborate with Dwyane Wade in Miami, but also with LeBron James in Cleveland. This, before making a final stop on the Boston side. On-site teammate of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo, he notably found LeBron and D-Wade, then recently reunited at the Heat, during Opening Night of the 2010-11 season:

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Winner of this poster with 9 points and 7 rebounds compiled, Shaq subsequently faced the Florida superteam on other occasions, including in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. A series this time lost by the Celtics and during which Diesel only took part… in 2 matches and 12 minutes of play in total. Enough to leave a very bitter taste in his mouth, which he reveals in his biography Shaq Uncut :

When I watch this series, I tell myself that Miami had no presence inside and it kills me. In the game I played the most, the Heat players were drifting but once they got in front of me in the paint, they didn’t come back. Chris Bosh, LeBron, D-Wade, they thought twice before coming back because they knew I had every intention of using my six fouls.

Certainly less bouncy and mobile than in his heyday, O’Neal nonetheless remained a valuable bulwark in the racket. And according to him, he would have done Boston a lot of good if he had been used more during this 1-4 loss. Not sure, however, that he would have succeeded single-handedly in reversing the course of history and offering qualification to the C’s, he who had celebrated his 39th birthday a few weeks earlier.

For Shaquille O’Neal, the 2011 playoff series between the Celtics and Heat would have turned out much differently if Doc Rivers had used more of his intimidation skills. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Heatles probably think otherwise.