Shaquille O'Neal

Author: Michael Boughn

Publisher: Warwick Publishing Inc.

Place and year of Publication: Toronto, Ontario 1999

Number of Pages: 91       
Where you found the book: CHS library

Theme: Sports, Accomplishments, Athletes

This book is called Shaquille O’Neal because this book is about a guy named Shaquille O’Neal.

The main character is Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal.

Story

   Shaq was born on March 6,1972 at Newark, New Jersey. His father was a solider, Shaq’s father had to move around a lot to lots of different military bases and took his wife and son (Shaq) with him. When Shaq was in Grade 6 they left to a military base in Germany. IN the base he was teased for his size and height, and he wasn’t doing that well in school, which didn’t help. He was 6’5’’ and 250 pounds at the time.  

   

   While they were at Fulda (a city in Germany) they arranged a basketball clinic for kids. A coach from Louisiana State University runs the clinic, Dale Brown. By 13 years old, Shaq was already 6’8’’ tall. Coach Dale Brown told Shaq’s dad he had potential as a basketball player. 

   

   In 1987 Shaq’s family returned to the U.S. to stay. Stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, Shaq’s traveling days were over. Shaq was 13 years at 6’9’’ and was in high school in Texas. He played high school basketball and with Shaq lost the only game for his freshman year team. There record was 32-1. By November 1988 Shaq had already signed a letter stating his agreement to go to LSU. At his senior year, Shaq is now 7 feet and 270 pounds. On his senior year his teams record was 36-0 with Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq was named Most Valuable Player (MVP). Shaq Graduated from high school in June 1989. 

   

   ON April 3,1991, right after the end of the NCAA tournament, Shaq announced he was leaving LUS to make himself evaluable for NBA draft. Shaq signed a 7-year contract with Orlando Magic for $39.9 million. Shaq became the first player in NBA history to be named player of the Week in the first week in the league, averaging 25.8 ppg, 16.4 rpg and 3.40 bpg for the week ending 11/15/92. He was named 1993 NBA rookie of the year, and to the NBA All-Rookie first team, after averaging 23.4 ppg, 13.9 rpg and 3.53 bpg. He led the NBA in scoring (29.3ppg) in 1994-95 and in field goal percentage (.599) in 1993-94. Shaq was selected in 1996 as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history. Then Shaq signed a 7-year contract worth $121 million with the L.A Lakers. He has appeared in the 45 career playoff games, and in the NBA All-Star Game in each of his first four seasons (1993-96). Shaq was an actor and rapper. He made lots of movies like Blue Chips, Kazaam, Steel, and made lots of albums too. Shaq was very talented in many ways.

   

  

   

Christian Perspective 

   This book was kind off based on a Christian perspective and showed some Christ like qualities for example, Shaq at one point of his life was extremely gentile even though people made fun of him for his height and weight. Shaq’s not even Christian, ends up he’s Muslim. The names of his children are all Islamic names.

   

My Thoughts

I enjoyed reading this book but I hate reading about all the games he played. I think this book has described every game Shaq has played. I recommend this book to people who enjoy sports, athletes, and tall people.