O'neal Quotes & Sayings

But that is the only thing that slows me down is the system. No one, two or three was big enough to slow me down, only the system. It was the system that slowed me down to make my numbers fall. Not because I am older. — Shaquille O'Neal

It's a huge, huge pressure that so many people depend on you. The type of player I am and people look at me to come out and perform a certain way. Not being able to play on the biggest stage of the season, it's frustrating. One thing I wanted to do was not be frustrated about it and figure out what I can do to change and better myself on the court. — Jermaine O'Neal

Things get so sloppy when you're under the influence. — Tatum O'Neal

I'm still the Dun Dada of all big men. — Shaquille O'Neal

If at first you don't succeed, try to eat a big lunch and take a nap ... er wait, no ... #badadvice — Jayce O'Neal

Alvin's the coach. We must be the Clippers. And I must be Olowokandi. Nooooo! — Shaquille O'Neal

I'm not really worried about my numbers now as a 36-year-old. I'm not trying to be the first, experimental case of a 36-year-older trying to maintain his numbers, especially when I'm on a team like this. Can I do the same stuff I could do when I was Amare's age? Of course not. I'm not going to even try. However, I feel that I'm the baddest 36-year-old out there. — Shaquille O'Neal

Who has connections to Connecticut? That's where rich people go to live the rest of their life in the woods. — Patrice O'Neal

The two top teams with nice weather and nice people were Dallas and Miami. Of course, the Lakers wouldn't want to trade me in the same conference, so Miami was perfect. — Shaquille O'Neal

I can't really remember the names of the clubs that we went to. — Shaquille O'Neal

If you've got a Corvette that runs into a brick wall, you know what's going to happen. He's a Corvette. I'm a brick wall. — Shaquille O'Neal

I don't feel anything when I watch Shaquille O'Neal play. I don't feel anything coming off him. — Dennis Rodman

Only a fool would cross a night traveler. — Kathleen O'Neal Gear

I'm always ready for a change. I'm Irish. I'm a leprechaun. — Shaquille O'Neal

If I get that thing down there in that area, that's 67% lifetime. If you don't believe me, Google it. I'm on the Internet. — Shaquille O'Neal

Even if you are poor, you can still receive the inheritances from the King! — Jayce O'Neal

Usually, if you think something's wrong, it probably is ... — Jayce O'Neal

I take that as an insult, even at 36. — Shaquille O'Neal

When I tweet, I try and accomplish three things. One, is to make you laugh. Two, is to inform you. Three, is to enlighten you. That's all I do. — Shaquille O'Neal

I've been 11, 12 percent body fat my whole career. But when you've got a big, sexy, beautiful man that's up in the 340s, 350s, the way you guys were taught on this planet, you're going to automatically think it's fat. — Shaquille O'Neal

If they want to play football, we can play football. — Shaquille O'Neal

I'm the NBA's best NFL player, and I've always been the sexiest 7-footer in the NBA - for 12 years running. — Shaquille O'Neal

Probably a lack of concentration. I always hit them during practice. I just need to concentrate. Even though I should a lousy percentage, I beat a lot of teams from the line. You have to have mechanics. But see, what people don't know about my wrists is my wrists don't go all the way back. My wrists are crooked and don't go all the way back. I've been practicing and working on them. You can't do everything good. — Shaquille O'Neal

We would love to have Gary down here. He's still tenacious on defense, and I know he still wants [a title]. And I'm the only guy in the world who can get him one. — Shaquille O'Neal

This really isn't a game we really should be proud of. This game is liking taking your kids to the zoo. You're supposed to take your kids to the zoo. You're a father. So a team like that, we're supposed to beat them like this. — Shaquille O'Neal

How can Benedict Arnold be reliable in what he says? — Shaquille O'Neal

One lucky shot deserves another. — Shaquille O'Neal

On paper, I think this is the best team I've been on. — Shaquille O'Neal

Win or lose, I am programmed to do more. That's because I am the other son of Jorel - Superman. — Shaquille O'Neal

Carry out your literary dream, no matter how unlikely it may seem ... — Terry A. O'Neal

I endorse only products I actually use. Like Wheaties keeps offering me money, but I don't eat Wheaties, so I can't do it. Now, if Rice Krispies or Frosted Flakes offered me a deal, I'd take it right away. Apple Jacks, I'd be on the box in a heartbeat. Apple Shaqs. Yeah. — Shaquille O'Neal

Like the archers of Agincourt, John O'Neal and the 254 Swiftboat Veterans took down their own haughty Frenchman. — Ann Coulter

I am aware that most people only see me as Shaq ... the guy on the court. But there is another side to who I am, Shaquille O'Neal. And Shaquille O'Neal wants to explore every part of life. He wants the opportunity to pursue all of his desires. That includes being a part of the music industry as an MC. Music is and will always be a part of who I am. — Shaquille O'Neal

I told Leonard, in the immortal words of Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2, 'I'm going on vacation. If I tell you where I'm going, then it won't be a vacation.' — Shaquille O'Neal

I know how to turn the bad into good always. — Shaquille O'Neal

I remained Ryan's companion on the Hollywood party circuit, growing inured to sex and drugs before I was in my teens. — Tatum O'Neal

When I retire, I'm going after his job. If I don't make sheriff, I'm going after his job. He's not that good. You can quote me on that. — Shaquille O'Neal

I had just put the casket in the hearse and was watching it drive away, when a beautiful blond woman comes up and embraces me. I said to her, 'You have a drink on you? You have a car?' She said, 'Daddy, it's me - Tatum!' I was just trying to be funny with a strange Swedish woman, and it's my daughter. It's so sick. — Ryan O'Neal

I was really upset. I felt like they tried to limit me, whoever 'they' may be. So I just said to myself third quarter I'm going to come out and do what I do. — Shaquille O'Neal

What trifles colour life and make it dark as night. — Rose O'Neal Greenhow

I play against a front and a back every night, Ming does not have to do that, Duncan does not have to do that, Garnett doesn't do that. I am the only one that has to do that. — Shaquille O'Neal

I painted my toenails before Dennis Rodman. One time at training camp, I stubbed my toe and the nail came loose. My mom gave me some toenail hardener, and I painted over it. I scored 40-something points that night, so it became a ritual. Paint my toenails, score 40 points. — Shaquille O'Neal

Please " I whispered. "Please come back."
There was no one there to hear me. — Eilis O'Neal

When you've got a guy that's going to look for you, you run. A lot of people think I can't run, but my thing was I wasn't going to be running if you're not going to throw it. I know Nash will throw it. — Shaquille O'Neal

My reward is just to be a better man. You're so close to losing a loved one ... the ultimate goal is to be a better daddy, a better son, a better teammate. — Jermaine O'Neal

All of my projects are done right because I know the game, and I consider myself a rap expert. — Shaquille O'Neal

Remember this-I'm going to bring a championship to Miami. I promise. — Shaquille O'Neal

I want to be strong, dominant. Like Wilt Chamberlain. — Shaquille O'Neal

Our offense is like the pythagorean theorem: There is no answer! — Shaquille O'Neal

I love race car drivers, I love gymnastics, I love UFC, I love police officers, I love firefighters. I just try to give them the same enjoyment they give me. — Shaquille O'Neal

But you can not compare Yao's stats to mine. You just can't compare it and I am playing everyone one-on-one. — Shaquille O'Neal

My personal opinion is, how, if you never hung out with somebody, do you know them so well? I never hung out with that dude because the dude is a weirdo. — Shaquille O'Neal

I was a medium-level juvenile delinquent from Newark who always dreamed about doing a movie. — Shaquille O'Neal

The Big Cactus ... because if you come too close, you're gonna get stuck. — Shaquille O'Neal

It's sort of like in the movie The Karate Kid when Daniel said he needed Mr. Miyagi. And Mr. Miyagi gave him that confidence to believe he really didn't. These guys think they really need me right now, but they don't. When I come back, we'll all need each other to step up our games and do what needs to be done. — Shaquille O'Neal

Toward the end of Carmel's life, the perception of super talls shifted dramatically, thanks largely to televised NBA games, By 1975, pretty much everyone had seen super tall people on TV, in the context of being celebrated in front of sold-out basketball arenas. This new frame of reference could not have been more positive. By 1995 Shaquille O'Neal was known as The Man of Steel, not the Traveling Human Giant. The idea of super tall people as freaks was replaced by the idea of super tall people as amazing athletes. — Arianne Cohen

I think it would be a boring game if everybody was the same, just like it would be boring if you guys asked the same dumb questions. — Shaquille O'Neal

We are a terrible defensive team right now. We're not putting forth the maximum effort that we need to put forth, especially in our position. You'd think that we'd put forth that maximum effort to not only win the game, but to get a good rhythm to get into the playoffs. — Jermaine O'Neal

You have to get Real, to get Healed. — Thakore Coco O'Neal

Everything is done out of respect, whether it's a cheer or a boo. — Shaquille O'Neal

I like to be loved or hated - I don't like mediocre. So I'd rather have the entire crowd hate me than to have 90% hate me. — Patrice O'Neal

That has nothing to do with basketball. That's just because I'm sexy. — Shaquille O'Neal

We see the death of dreams and hopes, but Jesus has conquered all death! — Jayce O'Neal

It's LeBron's team. He's the captain. This is the time in my career where I can fit in. I'm now in the security business. My job is to protect the King, and that's what I'm here to do. — Shaquille O'Neal

When you constantly question the motives of others you can't see them in their truest form. — Jayce O'Neal

I'm the last in the line of Russells and Chamberlains. — Shaquille O'Neal

I'm probably going to have to go with Kobester. He's an assassin with LeBron coming right after. — Shaquille O'Neal

Sometimes I find it difficult to determine whether or not I'm merely spinning my wheels or making progress. Nevertheless, I must keep moving on until I reach a destination. For I would much rather be in perpetual motion with the promise of reaching some place majestic beyond the horizon, rather than sitting idle alongside a dirt road watching time hurriedly pass me by. — Terry A. O'Neal

I had an absolutely revolting lunch with O'Neal. Although the food was pretty good. — Hugh Laurie

I'm like tax. You're going to pay one way or the other. — Shaquille O'Neal

My spirit has been around far longer than my soul
I've lived several lifetimes already. And one this novel has been written, I will have lived several more. — Terry A. O'Neal

The Big Cactus. I will stick you. — Shaquille O'Neal

If we want to DRAMATICALLY impact the world for the better than we need our hearts and minds to be DRAMATICALLY impacted by God's Word. — Jayce O'Neal

Somebody asked me about this the other day. A young Shaq and a young Penny, the young Shaq's going to take over. A medium Shaq and a young Kobe, the medium Shaq is going to take over. Now you've got an older Shaq and a young Dwyane; you step aside, you let him do his thing and you just do what's asked of you. — Shaquille O'Neal

I look forward to making Miami a media mecca. — Shaquille O'Neal

When God calls us to do something, its rarely safe but its always right. — Jayce O'Neal

We want stuff done right. As long as it's my team, I'll voice my opinion. Yep, it's my team. You media guys might give it to him, like you've given him everything else his whole lifetime, but this is the Diesel's ship. And if we're not right, I'm going to go out there and try to get it right ... Just ask Karl and Garywhy they wanted to come here. It was because of one person, not two. One. — Shaquille O'Neal

We shouldn't go to the Bible to back up what we believe. We should look to the Bible to determine what we believe. — Jayce O'Neal

Cynicism places the cynic at the center seat of judgement with the self appointed authority to criticize and condemn. — Jayce O'Neal

No one calls me out, I'm from LSU. — Shaquille O'Neal

I wouldn't. I would just go home. I'd fake an injury or something. — Shaquille O'Neal

Hey,maybe I could have a talk show, since you aren't going to be my June Cleaver anymore. I could call it the O'Neal Hour. Sounds important, doesn't it?" [Butch to Vishous]
"First of all, you were going to be June Cleaver-"
"Screw that. No way I'd bottom for you."
"Whatever. And second, I don't think there's much of a market for your particular brand of psychology."
"So not true."
"Butch, you and I just beat the crap out of each other."
"You started it. And actually, it would be perfect for Spike TV. UFC meets Oprah. God, I'm brilliant."
"Keep telling yourself that. — J.R. Ward

A lot of times when I buy a lot of toys, I get a little jealous and keep one or two for myself. So I've got a couple of drones. I've got a couple of remote-control cars. I like to have fun — Shaquille O'Neal

This summer is going to be a different summer for a lot of people. Everyone is going to take care of their own business and everyone is going to do what's best for them, including me. — Shaquille O'Neal

And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is a famous basketball player. I want to really learn the business. — Shaquille O'Neal

Let God take your hurt, your pain, and turn it into something miraculous! — Jayce O'Neal

It fascinates me that when we lose one of our five senses, the remaining four strengthen and rally to make sense of the world we live in. Even by closing our eyes for a moment, we find ourselves paying closer attention to the sounds around us. Perhaps this is why music can resonate so deeply within us; somehow our isolated senses allow our brains the space and perspective to connect these really beautiful dots of our own hearts and souls. I wonder if the act of giving our other senses a break ca — Ryan O'Neal

-I don't know that thin and pretty is what Nat is supposed to be, though. Does that make any sense?"
If she'd been holding on to any illusions about how much she liked Vince Grasso-not lusted for him, which she also did-that last speech would have cinched it. "It makes perfect sense. She's beautiful in her own way, but pretty is something ... else. And I've had friends who were really pretty-it didn't always help them all that much.'
"Yeah," he said. "My wife was pretty, and she was miserable her whole life. I just want my girls to be happy. Be themselves, you know, whatever it is. — Barbara O'Neal

The biggest thing that will define my legacy is how I've done it, and what I've done, and who I am. I'm a weird big guy. Doing rapping, doing movies. Do a lot of stuff. But always do things the right way. Went to the police academy to become a police officer. Get his master's in criminal justice, stayed out of trouble. Played for three different teams. Changed three different franchises around. This is a guy who they would have secret meetings about to change the rules. So, that's going to be my legacy: the most dominant player ever. — Shaquille O'Neal

Too often the man who complains the loudest has nothing of substance to say. Too often the man who complains the most provides no answers of solution. — Jayce O'Neal

It's a reality we have to understand. (O'Neal) has to be more diligent. We have to be more diligent protecting him. We need him in the game. — Pat Riley

You're messing up my highlights. — Shaquille O'Neal

I think the new ball is terrible. It's the worst decision some expert, whoever did it, made. It's terrible. It's like touching an exotic dancer and then going and touching a plastic blow-up doll. You know, it feels different. — Shaquille O'Neal

I do take responsibility for it. I admit to having a problem. I have been to numerous treatment centers. — Tatum O'Neal

I just said to myself, 'Damn, I'm a great player.' — Shaquille O'Neal

This is a tough game. There are times when you've got to play hurt, when you've got to block out the pain. — Shaquille O'Neal

It's pretty much the same; it's just that Phil was very weird with his system. This is more of the traditional system. — Shaquille O'Neal

I made a 1,600 minus 800 minus 200 on the SAT, so I'm very intelligent when I speak. — Shaquille O'Neal

Me having a beautiful wife and great family and friends around me, all the money I've got, all the things that I've got, a Ferrari that I just ripped the top off of and turned into a convertible, the rings I got, the two mansions on the water, a master's in criminal justice, I'm a cop, plus I look good. So me shooting 40 percent at the foul line is just God's way of saying that nobody's perfect. If I shot 90 percent from the line, it just wouldn't be right. — Shaquille O'Neal

Stats don't matter. I care about winning, not stats. If I score 0 points and we win I'm happy. If I score 50, 60 points, break the records, and we lose, I'm pissed off. 'Cause I knew I did something wrong. I'll have a hell of a season if I win the championship and average 20 points a game. — Shaquille O'Neal