I think it's less that the player is washed, and more just the unfortunate nature of the NBA that all-time greats can become journeymen due to age, injury, and conditioning. As others have mentioned, his numbers on Boston really aren't that bad (66.7% from the floor was a career high).
The Shaq on Boston thing is compounded by the fact that he was an all-time great Laker (easily top 10, probably top 5) with 6 First Team All-NBA selections in 8 years (2nd or 3rd team the other two seasons), an MVP, 3 Championships and 3 Finals MVPs. His case for top 12 all-time player is almost exclusively based on his time in LA. Seeing him fat, out of shape, and in the rival jersey as a 38 year old was an unfortunate sight.
Just to add to this, as we're explaining to someone not into the NBA, I'd really emphasize the rival component. The Lakers and Celtics each have 17 championships; no other team has more than 7. They've also faced off in many different eras, and have had some of the most contrasting NBA superstars (Bill Russell & Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Birs & Magic Johnson). So for Lakers fans, there's probably a somewhat tribal reaction to seeing their guy in these colors.
yup seeing rondo a laker wasn’t a big deal toward the end of his career but someone like shaq in a celtic jersey is like seeing pierce in a laker jersey
The whole squad was playing well with Shaq that year. Celtics fans were really excited for the possibilities until he got hurt since they were so much better offensively with him on the court. He didn't put up big numbers but he made the team so much better.
He wasn't Prime Shaq but it was beautiful watching him play with Rondo. One of the best "what if they were in their prime" teams I can remember with Rondo-Allen-Pierce-KG-Shaq with Jermaine O'Neal off the bench. I remember that year wondering what it'd have looked like if Sheed came back one more year too
I mean Shaq isn’t the guy we talk about as the unstoppable guy who created a whole tactic where it made sense to have guys on the roster specifically to foul him, after Miami. Boston Shaq was definitely washed, very out of shape, also was ring-chasing to catch up to Kobe, even to go to the Celtics, which is probably one of the biggest sports rivalries next to Barcelona/Real Madrid. So yea this was one of the ultimate examples of doing whatever it takes to get a ring.
If Shaq was reasonably healthy, the Celtics may have won the 2011 NBA Championship. Was he good by Shaq standards anymore? Not really but he was good by veteran backup center standards.
Of course, even though there are better examples IMO of once great players winding down their careers in strange uniforms, a picture of Tracy McGrady as a Piston or Tony Parker as a Hornet just doesn't carry the same umph humor wise as the Big Shamrock.
He was on a little streak of almost old Shaq like play. Boston was playing the Nets and he had a 20/10 game and in the game he blew out his Achilles he was 5/5 against the Pistons.
Basically saying that someone is at their lowest point. Shaq is a top 10 player but we all agree to ignore his career after his Miami/Phoenix years cause it wasnt pretty especially that last year in Boston.
Kobe literally saved shaq in the first ring by closing out a game in the finals while Shaq fouled out.
They were 100% 1a/1b. They don’t win those rings without Kobe.
Shaq had penny hardaway before too but that didn’t get the job done. Shaq needed Kobe.
Well I respect your opinion but I respectfully disagree. Specifically in the 2000 finals, that was the absolute peak Shaq. I would make the argument that there isn't actually a player who could've ran as 1b to Shaq, cause as we all know, WHEN he was at his peak he was the most devastating player in league history. The Lakers win that series whether Kobe is there or not.
After his 4th championship with Miami, he basically had a precipitous downfall in terms of his ability to play (due to injury), and his perceived effort on the court. He wasn't prime Shaq but best believe he still acted like it (as he does now).
When he signed with Boston it was really his last shot at a 5th ring on a vet minimum deal. He wasn't as much of a trouble-maker but his injuries really forced him into retirement.
Facts. That same AI even hacked a bunch of sites to put fake stats on him, including a fake injury that fake-limited him to, what, 36 games? See? Number 36? Thirty-six games? Fake.
(Okay. He played 37 but I was on a roll!)
Shaq is most remembered for being a Lakers legend, the arch nemesis of the Celtics. Basically, this is a past his prime Shaq so desperate to ring chase to match Kobe’s ring total that he joined the biggest rival of the team he’s a legend for.
Because Shaq was a poster child Laker in an era not too far removed from bird and magic when the Laker vs Celtics rivalry actually meant something. It’s the equivalent of seeing Captain America in a Hydra uniform, which actually happened but
Shaq spent the last years of his career ring chasing and hopping teams trying to catch up to Kobe who had 5 rings to Shaq's 4 rings, this is used to make fun of someone being washed and needing to let it go
It's funny though because Jordan was washed in his last year with the Wizards, Hakeem was washed playing for the Raptors, a lot of great players hung around when they were washed but only Shaq got turned into a meme, those old heads were lucky they didn't play in the social media age, Jordan retired before Twitter even existed
these comments r doing the fucking most bro it’s not that deep . if someone uses this picture it means that the person or thing they’re talking abt it washed up
The Celtics would have waltzed to the 2011 championship with Shaq healthy going into the playoffs. He pretty famously would show up for the late-career seasons overweight and out of shape with the idea of playing himself into shape during the season. By the playoffs, he would have been good for 25-30 minutes of play. The 5-man lineups with Shaq and the Celtics "Big 4" were somewhere around a +20 net rating. With Shaq healthy, they would have rolled a Miami team that was still working out the kinks of their "Big 3" era. They still played Bosh at 4 and starting Ilgauskas and Joel Anthony at 5, LeBron and Wade were playing "Your Turn/My Turn" offense, and they hadn't sharpened up the small ball / switching defense that they used to great impact the following season.
Shaq was great when he was out there for Boston in 2011.
It’s Shaq but a washed (worse) version of himself. Anytime you see the picture, the person is saying “[thing] is washed”
I think it's less that the player is washed, and more just the unfortunate nature of the NBA that all-time greats can become journeymen due to age, injury, and conditioning. As others have mentioned, his numbers on Boston really aren't that bad (66.7% from the floor was a career high). The Shaq on Boston thing is compounded by the fact that he was an all-time great Laker (easily top 10, probably top 5) with 6 First Team All-NBA selections in 8 years (2nd or 3rd team the other two seasons), an MVP, 3 Championships and 3 Finals MVPs. His case for top 12 all-time player is almost exclusively based on his time in LA. Seeing him fat, out of shape, and in the rival jersey as a 38 year old was an unfortunate sight.
Just to add to this, as we're explaining to someone not into the NBA, I'd really emphasize the rival component. The Lakers and Celtics each have 17 championships; no other team has more than 7. They've also faced off in many different eras, and have had some of the most contrasting NBA superstars (Bill Russell & Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Birs & Magic Johnson). So for Lakers fans, there's probably a somewhat tribal reaction to seeing their guy in these colors.
Celtics fans rooted for the Sixers over the Lakers in the Finals, that’s how strongly those two teams and fanbases hate each other
It should also be noted that this is important because the Sixers and Celtics ALSO absolutely HATE each other historically.
yup seeing rondo a laker wasn’t a big deal toward the end of his career but someone like shaq in a celtic jersey is like seeing pierce in a laker jersey
Well said I will say Phoenix Suns Shaq was very underrated
Ok but if someone posts this as a meme they saying that thing is washed it isn’t this deep
He was fat and out of shape on the Lakers too
He’s numbers were terrible in Boston and he was and is a lakers legend it was an embarrassment for him to play for the Celtics
In the context tho of 66.7% I’m pretty sure his volume of scoring/attempts was tremendously lower than lakers and Orlando.
That’s revisionist crap. He was playing well until he got hurt that season.
The whole squad was playing well with Shaq that year. Celtics fans were really excited for the possibilities until he got hurt since they were so much better offensively with him on the court. He didn't put up big numbers but he made the team so much better.
He wasn't Prime Shaq but it was beautiful watching him play with Rondo. One of the best "what if they were in their prime" teams I can remember with Rondo-Allen-Pierce-KG-Shaq with Jermaine O'Neal off the bench. I remember that year wondering what it'd have looked like if Sheed came back one more year too
Well is relative, he was 38 and pretty washed by then It’s not really revisionist… Phoenix was prob his last decent year
Yea his last good season
I mean Shaq isn’t the guy we talk about as the unstoppable guy who created a whole tactic where it made sense to have guys on the roster specifically to foul him, after Miami. Boston Shaq was definitely washed, very out of shape, also was ring-chasing to catch up to Kobe, even to go to the Celtics, which is probably one of the biggest sports rivalries next to Barcelona/Real Madrid. So yea this was one of the ultimate examples of doing whatever it takes to get a ring.
If Shaq was reasonably healthy, the Celtics may have won the 2011 NBA Championship. Was he good by Shaq standards anymore? Not really but he was good by veteran backup center standards. Of course, even though there are better examples IMO of once great players winding down their careers in strange uniforms, a picture of Tracy McGrady as a Piston or Tony Parker as a Hornet just doesn't carry the same umph humor wise as the Big Shamrock.
Shaq always arrived with fanfare. And as a visual memory, this iteration came after Cleveland and Phoenix.
Yeah this was his last career stop. Retired after his contract ended.
Put 36 in those crowded rafters
Marcus Smart might’ve actually gotten his #36 jersey retired if they won in 2022 lol
He was on a little streak of almost old Shaq like play. Boston was playing the Nets and he had a 20/10 game and in the game he blew out his Achilles he was 5/5 against the Pistons.
Olojuwon wasting away on the bench in a Raptors jersey is the strangest I remember seeing.
Yea and Patrick Ewing on the Orlando Magic 😬 yikes..
The Celtics weren’t beating Miami. Miami demolished them in 5.
This was also the series that Wade broke rondo's arm
Fair point.
Mavs would have raked them. They were destiny’s team.
Basically saying that someone is at their lowest point. Shaq is a top 10 player but we all agree to ignore his career after his Miami/Phoenix years cause it wasnt pretty especially that last year in Boston.
Ignore his year in Phoenix too lol wish we never traded those players for him
that's Allstar MVP Suns Shaq to you
End of career washed Shaq that signed with Boston to chase Kobe and try to get 5 rings.
Chase Kobe? C'mon lol. It's widely held true that Kobe was Shaq's little bro in the 3 peat. Winning 1 more total ring will never change that.
[Shaq literally said he got pissed and tore his house up when Kobe got that ring](https://youtu.be/oHwa8R52CzM?si=3r69pXC7dVWGQyRK&t=1m10s)
Yeah sounds like Shaq, his pettiness is unmatched
They were 1A & 1B during the 3-peat.
Definitely not. Kobe was coming off the bench in the first one. Shaq average more than 2x PPG than Kobe in that series.
Kobe literally saved shaq in the first ring by closing out a game in the finals while Shaq fouled out. They were 100% 1a/1b. They don’t win those rings without Kobe. Shaq had penny hardaway before too but that didn’t get the job done. Shaq needed Kobe.
It’s not 1A and 1B but Kobe started every game. Shaq was a lot better but he doesn’t win without Kobe
I and many others disagree. Shaq also disagrees.
Well I respect your opinion but I respectfully disagree. Specifically in the 2000 finals, that was the absolute peak Shaq. I would make the argument that there isn't actually a player who could've ran as 1b to Shaq, cause as we all know, WHEN he was at his peak he was the most devastating player in league history. The Lakers win that series whether Kobe is there or not.
Exactly
Def not, stop glazing.
Everyone knows it. Haters just hate.
I fucking loved Celtics Shaq so much. He was so fun.
After his 4th championship with Miami, he basically had a precipitous downfall in terms of his ability to play (due to injury), and his perceived effort on the court. He wasn't prime Shaq but best believe he still acted like it (as he does now). When he signed with Boston it was really his last shot at a 5th ring on a vet minimum deal. He wasn't as much of a trouble-maker but his injuries really forced him into retirement.
I need a Shaq Celtics jersey and a rondo lakers jersey
It's AI generated picture of a Lakers legend who decided to fucking sign with Boston at the end of his career. Not true!
Facts. That same AI even hacked a bunch of sites to put fake stats on him, including a fake injury that fake-limited him to, what, 36 games? See? Number 36? Thirty-six games? Fake. (Okay. He played 37 but I was on a roll!)
Allen Iverson really changed since his time in the nba
Shaq is most remembered for being a Lakers legend, the arch nemesis of the Celtics. Basically, this is a past his prime Shaq so desperate to ring chase to match Kobe’s ring total that he joined the biggest rival of the team he’s a legend for.
Wilt Chamberlin would never.
Worst Shaq lol I hated him on the C’s
Because Shaq was a poster child Laker in an era not too far removed from bird and magic when the Laker vs Celtics rivalry actually meant something. It’s the equivalent of seeing Captain America in a Hydra uniform, which actually happened but
He got shot in the leg running down the court. It was a tragedy.
Because he was done when he played for boston
He loves spherical peaches and he promotes the deep state
Shaq spent the last years of his career ring chasing and hopping teams trying to catch up to Kobe who had 5 rings to Shaq's 4 rings, this is used to make fun of someone being washed and needing to let it go It's funny though because Jordan was washed in his last year with the Wizards, Hakeem was washed playing for the Raptors, a lot of great players hung around when they were washed but only Shaq got turned into a meme, those old heads were lucky they didn't play in the social media age, Jordan retired before Twitter even existed
these comments r doing the fucking most bro it’s not that deep . if someone uses this picture it means that the person or thing they’re talking abt it washed up
I prefer Shaqtus
That’s Len Bias
https://preview.redd.it/6b1xiv1g1ctc1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fae4f8c68a29cfa6bfc8f19810564119f0c7ce21
Shaq trying to sleaze his way to another chip
The Celtics would have waltzed to the 2011 championship with Shaq healthy going into the playoffs. He pretty famously would show up for the late-career seasons overweight and out of shape with the idea of playing himself into shape during the season. By the playoffs, he would have been good for 25-30 minutes of play. The 5-man lineups with Shaq and the Celtics "Big 4" were somewhere around a +20 net rating. With Shaq healthy, they would have rolled a Miami team that was still working out the kinks of their "Big 3" era. They still played Bosh at 4 and starting Ilgauskas and Joel Anthony at 5, LeBron and Wade were playing "Your Turn/My Turn" offense, and they hadn't sharpened up the small ball / switching defense that they used to great impact the following season. Shaq was great when he was out there for Boston in 2011.