Shaquille 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

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

Przybilla can't guard me when I'm 27, 37 or 47. — Shaquille O'Neal

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

I'm very educated and can give you somewhat of a vocabulary, but I don't get to the philosophical side. — 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

As my great friend Aristotle said, 'If you cannot command, you must learn to listen.' I'm not the hierarchy here. I am a worker bee. — Shaquille 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

There is no answer to the Pythagorean theorem. Well, there is an answer, but by the time you figure it out, I got 40 points, 10 rebounds and then we're planning for the parade. — 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

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

My father made me who I am. He gave me a basketball and told me to play with the ball, sleep with the ball, dream with the ball. Just don't take it to school. I used it as a pillow, and it never gave me a stiff neck. — 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

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

When I concentrate and focus, they always go in, so I'm gonna continue to do that, and they will go in. — Shaquille O'Neal

It is not about how much money you make. The question is are you educated enough to KEEP it. — 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

I'm short and to the point. — Shaquille O'Neal

One lucky shot deserves another. — Shaquille O'Neal

Can't nobody [mess] with me. I'm like toilet paper, Pampers and toothpaste. I'm definitely proven to be effective. — 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

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

It's t'ai chi every time. I'm using your positive energy, and I'm blowing off it. See, most guys can't push, they got to lean. When they lean, I spin. — Shaquille O'Neal

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

Somebody out there was trying to use my language and trying to speak for me. Rather than have that happen, I thought I'd do it myself. It's a fun thing. It's a way for fans to connect. — Shaquille O'Neal

I'm the master marketer. — Shaquille O'Neal

I know how to turn the bad into good always. — 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

Shaquille and I kind of joke we were the Christopher Columbus of social media. We're kind of out on a boat by ourselves going through these uncharted waters. But it's become more understood, embraced and accepted, and now it's pretty much expected by fans for athletes, leagues and teams to be there. — Amy Jo Martin

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

A true superstar, [Shaquille] O'Neal is one of the most widely recognized athletes in the world, especially at waffle houses and all-you-can-eat buffets. Despite being born without the kind of body that would lend itself to being a dominant NBA center, Shaq's tireless work ethic has enabled him to become one of the game's all-time greats at the position. In his nearly fifteen years in the league he has almost managed to develop low post moves beyond backing over people, and he vows to one day make more than half of his free throws. — D.J. Gallo

I just want to keep people entertained. — Shaquille O'Neal

They are that same group, but I've got my own rivalristic problems. Is that a word, rivalristic? I've got my own rivalristic problems in the Eastern Conference. — Shaquille O'Neal

Anyone can win a slam-dunk contest. The real Superman is dead. He was assassinated by Pat Riley. I'm the Big Cactus now and ready to roll again. — Shaquille O'Neal

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

I don't send messages, I'm not a fax machine — Shaquille O'Neal

Being the best right now doesn't do anything for my feathers. — Shaquille O'Neal

You like that analogy? That was pretty good? — Shaquille O'Neal

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

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

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

If I don't get five [titles], I won't be happy with myself as a basketball player. I don't know how you guys will feel about me. — Shaquille O'Neal

Why did it happen? The big dog got fed. And when the big dog was fed, the little dog even got some meat in there, too. Big dog owns the domain, but the little dog can go wherever he wants. — Shaquille 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

It was a cheap shot. They won the game, move on. My thing is, I don't ask for a lot, but I demand my respect, especially from a guy like that. — Shaquille O'Neal

Doesn't matter. If I would've had a beer before the game, I would've been drunk. So I don't believe in 'if.' — Shaquille O'Neal

My secret? See it, and stay focused on it. — Shaquille O'Neal

It's hard being the NBA's sex symbol, but somebody has to do it. — Shaquille O'Neal

We're focusing on the whole pie, not a slice. A slice is good, but it's not good enough to get you fat. We're trying to get fat. — Shaquille O'Neal

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

We know what we have to do. I know I have to get up in the morning, put my underwear on first and then put my pants on first. I don't need people to tell me that. — Shaquille O'Neal

They won't talk to you because I'm undercover. — Shaquille O'Neal

I've read that same formula, but as an athlete I'm classified as phenomenal. You could look it up. — Shaquille O'Neal

I was like, 'Huh? You want my jersey?' — Shaquille O'Neal

I'll beat you up right now if you want me to. — Shaquille O'Neal

Nietzsche was so intelligent and advanced. And that's how I am. I'm the black, basketball-playing Nietzsche. — 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

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

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

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

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

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

You're messing up my highlights. — 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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

I want to be strong, dominant. Like Wilt Chamberlain. — 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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