Shaq announces retirement.

[SaintFan25]

After a mentally exhausting season in which he was unable to overcome the effects of a right Achilles injury as a member of the Boston Celtics, Shaquille O'Neal has decided to retire after 19 NBA seasons.

In typical O'Neal fashion, he chose the unconventional approach of announcing his retirement via social media. He posted a short video on a new social media site called Tout in which he said:

"We did it. Nineteen years baby," he said in the message. "I want to thank you very much, that's why I'm telling you first, I'm about to retire. Thank you, talk to you soon."

O'Neal walks away with four championship rings, three Finals MVP trophies, one MVP award, and 15 All-Star appearances. O'Neal, a two-time NBA scoring champion, is fifth all-time on the NBA's list for career points (28,596) and 12th in total rebounds (13,099).

O'Neal arrived in Boston last August declaring he had 730 days -- or two more seasons -- in his NBA career, but he couldn't endure the first 365. Riddled by injuries, most notably the lingering Achilles ailment, he appeared in just 37 regular-season games and limped through two playoff appearances for Boston, playing a mere 17½ minutes after Feb. 1.

Upon arriving in Boston, O'Neal injected newfound lightheartedness in Boston's training camp and quickly endeared himself to the region with stunts like posing as a statue in Harvard Square, conducting a holiday medley with the Boston Pops, and dressing in drag for Halloween.

But even as the Celtics thrived when he was on the court -- enough so for Boston to consider trading away starting center Kendrick Perkins at the February trade deadline -- O'Neal struggled to stay on the court due to a myriad of injuries on the right side of his body.

No amount of rehab and medicine could cure the ailing Achilles, which limited him to one appearance after Feb. 1, a 5½-minute stint against the Detroit Pistons in early April that saw him limp right back off the court when the injury flared.

O'Neal played small minutes in Games 3 and 4 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Heat before being deactivated for Game 5 as the Celtics season ended in Miami.

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=6615886

Link to the video: http://www.tout.com/u/Shaq

Interesting way to retire but then again we're talking about Shaq. lol

 

[Lake Louise]

Thank you, talk to you soon.

Countdown to TNT begins

 

[SaintFan25]

Countdown to TNT begins

Haha yep, I'm hoping he'd join TNT. Him and Chuck together would be hilarious.

 

[Pugz]

shaq and chuck <3

 

[DJT]

Not sure I believe this yet...could still see him playing.

 

[SaintFan25]

Not sure I believe this yet...could still see him playing.

Yeah I could too, it is Shaq after all.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Favre?

 

[elcheato]

I believe it.. can't wait to see him on TNT with Charles

 

[SaintFan25]

He's tweeting the same thing over and over. lol

http://twitter.com/#!/SHAQ

 

[Elite]

The Shaqtus is retiring :[

 

[Mexi]

aw Shaq.
I loved him so much when he was a laker
I was devastated when he asked for a trade in 04

but thats over and done with. he's going to be great on TV
and perfect timing as Kevin McHale leaves
get rid of Kenny, Webb/Charles/Shaq = Win

 

[lakerfan]

I'm curious to see what his legacy will be years from now. Today, he's within arguably the top 5 Centers in the history of the league, but would any go as far to put him ahead of Wilt, Kareem, Russell or Hakeem? Could better conditioning have extended his career? On further note, I really thought it was sad the see the most dominant big man of this generation go from team to team the latter stages of his career. I felt he deserved more than that. While I thought watching him in his prime that he could have played until 45, I can't help but get the feeling this retirement was two seasons too late.

 

[Hurricane Season]

 

[playmaker7]

Goodbye to a true legend

It just hurts me he's retiring a Celtic

 

[Yankees2772]

I'm curious to see what his legacy will be years from now. Today, he's within arguably the top 5 Centers in the history of the league, but would any go as far to put him ahead of Wilt, Kareem, Russell or Hakeem? Could better conditioning have extended his career? On further note, I really thought it was sad the see the most dominant big man of this generation go from team to team the latter stages of his career. I felt he deserved more than that. While I thought watching him in his prime that he could have played until 45, I can't help but get the feeling this retirement was two seasons too late.

He is a top 5 player of all time... To me, he is THE BEST player of all time. So yes, he's ahead of all of those clowns.

 

[SaintFan25]

I remember watching that live. SMFH

 

[Mexi]

i put him behind kareem for sure
i put him ahead of wilt
and i struggle with Hakeem, Russell and him

 

[The Young One]

Im hurt by this...I grew up watching Shaq. Hell he was in the nba before I was even born. The league lost a legend today. Felt like I lost a part of my childhood. I remember watching Kazaam as a kid...reading his autobiography in 4th grade...now he's done.

He's gonna kill it on TNT though....Salute to the real Superman and a True Legend

 

[Hella Jeff]

Shaq was the fuking man! Kobe's ass can't even look at Shaq's greatness!

 

[RipCity32]

Sad to see him go. Hats off to one of the best careers of all time.