Shaquille O’Neal is one of the greatest big men to have played the game. Over his illustrious career, he won three championships in a row (which hasn’t been done since), starred in movies and television, and found a job in broadcasting after his retirement, earning over $15 million per year in 2025 for his work on TV.
O’Neal won four NBA Championships during his career. Let’s revisit each of his wins and the role he played in those triumphs.
Revisiting Shaquille O’Neal’s NBA Championship Wins
2000 – Los Angeles Lakers Defeat Indiana Pacers
O’Neal started his NBA career with the Orlando Magic, but his golden period began when he signed with the Lakers in 1996. His steady rise culminated in the only MVP season of his career in 2000, which was followed by a Finals MVP performance against the Pacers.
With Kobe Bryant by his side, the pair efficiently carried the Lakers through the playoffs before beating the Pacers 4-2 in the finals. O’Neal won his first NBA Finals MVP award that season. Through the playoffs, the center averaged a playoff career high of 30.7 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.
2001 – Los Angeles Lakers Defeat Philadelphia 76ers
It was a season when disagreements between Bryant and O’Neal began to surface, with the Lakers winning eleven fewer games than the previous season. However, they went berserk in the playoffs, losing just one game in the entire run, as O’Neal had an impressive playoff campaign in which he averaged 30.4 points, 15.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.4 blocks per game to win his second NBA Finals MVP.
The Lakers swept the Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, and San Antonio Spurs to set up the finals against the 76ers. Los Angeles lost just one game, the first of the finals, in overtime before winning the next four on the trot for their second consecutive NBA Championship.
2002 – Los Angeles Lakers Defeat New Jersey Nets
The off-field issues between Bryant and O’Neal didn’t stop the pair from dominating on the court as the Lakers completed the three-peat in 2002. However, unlike their dominant playoff run from the previous season, it was a tough battle for L.A., particularly in the final two rounds.
After comfortably winning the first two rounds, the Lakers took on the Kings in the Western Conference Finals, which went the distance to seven games. They eventually got the better of their division rivals and took on the Nets in the finals, a series in which Bryant is considered to have cemented his status as a clutch player.
O’Neal delivered another Finals MVP performance and won his third consecutive award. He recorded 36.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game in the finals.
🏀 Shot Chart of the Day: @SHAQ in the 2001-02 NBA Finals, where he won his third consecutive NBA Finals MVP for the @Lakers. pic.twitter.com/WH5NoU1OSH
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 13, 2018
2006 – Miami Heat Defeat Dallas Mavericks
O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat in 2004 due to a deteriorating situation between him, the team’s ownership, and Bryant. He promised to bring a Championship to Miami, but he fell short in his first season and missed 18 of the first 20 games of the following season due to injury.
At the end of the regular season, O’Neal posted career lows in several categories but helped the Heat through the playoffs with solid performances.
The Heat faced a dominant Dallas Mavericks team led by Dirk Nowitzki in the finals and lost the first two games. However, they won the next four on the trot to secure the first NBA Championship in the franchise’s history. O’Neal finished the finals series with 13.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, and unlike his first two championship wins, he didn’t have to play the starring role in the 2006 finals.
