"From this day on, I would like to be known as the Big Aristotle. Because it was Aristotle who said, `Excellence is not a singular act, but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do."

--Shaquille O'Neal, 2000

He’s been dubbed The Big Aristotle, The Diesel, MDE (Most Dominant Ever), and Superman – often by himself. Whatever the moniker, Shaquille O’Neal has always been larger than life, with matching expectations. The 2006 season features high expectations in Miami where The Big Aristotle has set up shop. Anything less than a NBA Finals appearance would be viewed as a major disappointment. The acquisition of former All-Stars Antoine Walker and Gary Payton, the trade for Jason Williams, and of course, the return of Pat Riley to the sidelines as a coach was in the pursuit of a championship this season.

If Miami manages to survive Detroit and the Western Conference winner to hoist the O’Brien trophy, it an early validation for Dwayne Wade at the top of the NBA’s vanguard. It would be sweet vindication for veterans such as Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning. Over a decade, they have paid their dues, but could not get past the Jordan Bulls, Duncan Spurs, or O’Neal-led Laker squads. For Antoine Walker and Jason Williams, they can point to the ring as proof that they could indeed successfully modulate their allegedly ego-driven games to the team concept. Pat Riley can point to the 05-06 Heat as his championship won without Magic, Kareem, and Showtime.

But for Shaq, it’s a bit simpler. Whether he knows it or will even admit it, it is about his legacy.

Shaq is still the most compelling single person in the playoffs. Steve Nash has back to back MVPs, and the Suns may yet rewrite how to win a championship, but they have time on their side and it’s doubtful that they can pull it off without Amare Stoudmire.

Dirk Nowitzki is an MVP-in-waiting, but again, his team’s future is bright, and coach Avery Johnson is at least as compelling. No, Shaq is the reason why Pat Riley was willing to risk his reputation and conduct such as risky experiment. Shaq continues to be the one player in the league that conventional rules and measures may not apply to – not just for referees, but players as well. Yet even Shaq is subject to Higher Powers as well. Father Time; a.k.a. The Big Equalizer.

The MDE has a wonderful gift in his arsenal unseen since Muhammad Ali was in his prime: He can get away with the most arrogant of pronouncements; really, can anyone see (by way of example) Kobe Bryant getting away with calling himself Most Dominant Ever? I don’t care if he dropped his 81 on the Jordan and the ‘96 Bulls, Kobe would get hammered. Either because he is such a genuinely likeable guy – or maybe because the media is physically afraid of him – after getting his first title in 2000, Shaq has always had a layer of protection that makes Teflon look like Velcro. I’m old enough to remember Wilt Chamberlain, and suffice to say that if The Big Dipper (yes, the whole “The Big [insert nickname]” handle business predates Shaq) had gone out in five to the ’04 Pistons, Wilt would have to had left the country for a while.

Which is a shame, since Shaq truly stopped being The Big Aristotle about four years ago, when he became The Big Coney Island Roller Coaster. His weight went from 325 to well…Shaq admitted to 360 in his last season with Los Angeles, rumors had it going as high as 380. In any case, it was obvious to even the occasional fan that O’Neal had lost a discernable level of his quickness and agility that marked his game from Day One.

What would Aristotle have said?

The year 2000 was not only the best season of Shaquille O’Neal’s career; it was one of the great individual seasons in NBA history; [insert stats]. The Lakers won their first title since 1988, and Shaq and Kobe Bryant were the toasts of the town. Championships followed the next two seasons, and the word dynasty was starting to be used. Except cracks were developing on and off the court starting in the 2002 playoffs.

The 2002 postseason featured Tony Parker and Mike Bibby undressing the Lakers with the pick and roll. Parker was a rookie with a shaky jumper and no cred with the refs. Bibby and Chris Webber nearly screen-rolled the Lakers out of the postseason as The Big Way Too Big unwillingness to consistently extend himself on defense became apparent. NBA coaches couldn’t ignore the obvious evidence, and pretty soon, making Shaq work on defense – not by trying to score on him, but by forcing him to switch and extend his defense beyond the post – became an NBA staple. 

In 2003, Shaq declined to get off-season toe surgery, saying “I got hurt on company time; I’ll get it fixed on company time.” What would have Aristotle have said? He wound up missing the first 14 games of the season. Worse, the relationship between he and Kobe Bryant, which was shaky on their best days, was irreparably damaged.  2004 feature Shaq’s public demands for money with the infamous “Pay me my [bleeping] money.” At Laker owner Jerry Buss during a preseason game. The Lakers looked ragged during the regular season, as did Shaq as he missed 15 games due to injuries and had a career low scoring average. In retrospect, are we surprised? You are what you consistently do.

In the aftermath of the disastrous 2004 Finals, where a heavily favored Laker team was soundly beaten by the Pistons and which featured a total meltdown between Shaq and Kobe Bryant, Shaq essentially orchestrated his exit from La-La land. It was obvious to Shaq that Jerry Buss wasn’t going to pay him 30 million a year in an extension. It was obvious to Jerry Buss that Shaq, who had missed an average of 15 games a year for the previous three seasons, wasn’t going to be worth 30 million at the age of 35 or 36. Laker fans should have had no problem with the idea of a trade, but rather the shoddy execution. GM Mitch Kupchak, who basically panicked and traded Shaq with two years left on his contract, and got the cap-killing contracts of Lamar Odom and Brian Grant.

A New Beginning – Same Shaq?

Last season, O’Neal returning to Florida seemed to have the same impact on him that getting kicked out of Boston had for Roger Clemens. Shaq showed up Miami as a hero, his Shaq-flon intact, helped in no small part by Kobe Bryant’s incredible penchant for self-inflicted PR wounds, turning himself into The Most Hated Man in Basketball.

The Big SlimFast showed up for training camp weighing 325 – at least 35 pounds lighter the season before (his explanation was classic Shaq-speak: “Phil (Jackson) always wanted me strong, so I lifted and came in big.” Of course, no one seriously challenged his statement.). The result was predictable – Shaq finished runner up to Steve Nash as MVP, and played in 73 games, his highest total in four years. The Heat made the conference finals, and came within a D-Wade injury of making the Finals and getting the last word on Jerry Buss and Kobe Bryant.

This season, Shaq got the coach he wanted in Pat Riley, and the supporting cast he wanted. In return, he played in just 59 games, and set career lows in points and rebounds, while setting a career high in fouls per minute. While a career-low 30 minutes a game, he committed an Eric Dampier-like 3.9 fouls per game (highest total since his rookie year). The Heat beat the Bulls in their first round match-up, but was exposed as a team a step slow in the backcourt against the mercurial guards of the Bulls, who seemingly penetrated at will and attacked Shaq with impunity. The second round featured a surprisingly easy win over the Nets, which brings us to the present. Can Shaq did deep and provide a sustained level of brilliance at the age of 34 that will bring home his fourth ring? Does he have the hunger?

You’re Shaquille O’Neal, 34. You are certainly the best center of your era. Alas, in 2006, that’s a bit like having the most fuel-efficient Hummer; it’s not saying a heck of a lot. Greatness can only be measured against greatness. Wilt and Russell had each other, and on nights when they were bored with each other, there was Nate Thurmond (who was probably the third best defensive center ever), Wayne The Wall Embry, Willis Reed and Walt Bellamy. Kareem had to contend Wilt, Walton, Lanier, Unseld, Artis Gilmore, and Moses Malone, to name a few.

By contrast a young Shaq faced off with David Robinson, and an old Patrick Ewing, and Hakeem (who schooled him regularly). A prime Shaq had Tim Duncan, who prefers to masquerade as a power forward, and who else? Rik Smits? Vlade Divac? Dale Davis? How ironic that the older Shaq now gets challenged by Yao and Ben Wallace. Perhaps he’ll finally get the foil we fans have been waiting for. I don’t blame Shaq for having the misfortune of playing in the Dark Ages of  the Low Post, but he can be held to account for not taking full advantage of his dominance. But will Shaq first post up Father Time? How can and how will he stave off time?

The year is 1993: Reebok features a commercial. Shaq knocks on an extra-dimensional door. Bill Russell sternly peers through the peephole:

Russell: “You’re late

Shaq: “But I’m ready.”

(Shaq steps through, awaiting him are Wilt, Kareem, Russell and Walton. The implication is clear…)

Echoes of Wilt

Shaq is frequently and understandably compared to Wilt Chamberlain. Wilt is the only center who could physically match up with Shaq in terms of strength and agility. And at 34, Wilt returned from a major knee injury to help get the Lakers into the 1970 Finals. He then played another three years, leading the league in rebounding every year. The 1972 Lakers won 33 in a row and the title. He plated 43 minutes a game his final season.

Bill Russell: His final season came at age 34.He averaged 19 rebounds, 5 assists, made All-Defensive First Team and won a title.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: In 1982 he was only 34 and averaged 23.8ppg, 8.7 rebounds, 3 assists and nearly 3 blocks in 35 minutes a game. And he played another 7 seasons and won three titles after that.

The 34 year old Shaq played under 31 minutes, whined about the officiating this season, and in what should worry Miami fans, his backup center Alonzo Mourning has been the more consistent defender and a far better shot-blocker. 

By contrast, Shaq’s persistent complaints about the officiating, while sometimes justifiable, also remind me of a man who has not accepted that The Big Hourglass stops for no one. When quickness goes, brute force can not be your alternative, as the referees have made painfully clear. Much like many a great pitcher, Shaq will have to add more guile to compensate for diminished skills. Of course, it would help if Shaq starts conceding that the skills have diminished – if only to himself.

There is no doubting that Shaq is one of the five or six best centers ever. The question is does Shaq simply want to proclaim himself an MDE, or does he want to finish stating his case? Overall, the evidence is shaky. His conditioning over the years doesn’t indicate that he takes the regular season very seriously, and as most people of 30 will tell you, if you want to play, you have to pay.  Kareem, Wilt, Michael Jordan – the men at the pantheon Shaq envisions himself all paid that price.

Moreover, the window of opportunity is closing and O’Neal and the Heat. Besides Detroit, Cleveland, Washington, and New Jersey will all post stiff challenges to Miami in the near future. The recent rule changes and the success of the Mavericks and Suns over the last two years will inspire other teams to change to up-tempo offenses that will either require big men to run the court or seek the bench. Can and will Shaq adapt to the inevitable? That he is still respected, but no longer feared?

Besides a renewed off-season commitment, can Shaq adjust his game in the present?

Shaq, if legacies are not built after 30, they certainly acquire their substance. Consider the case of Kareem. Kareem’s career, featured six MVPs won before he was 31, yet how defined was he by the 1985 Finals? The Celtics won Game One in the infamous Memorial Day Massacre 148-115. Kareem was ripped by many as “old”, “uninspired”, and worse. The next day, he apologized to his teammates for his performance.

Ten days later, the 37-year old Abdul-Jabbar capped the historic six game vanquishing of the Celtics, with 29 points in the clincher at The Boston Garden and the Finals MVP. A 35 year old Wilt led the Lakers to the 69-13 mark in 1972 and the Lakers first NBA title in Los Angeles.

Shaq is clearly in decline, but history can be on his side. The Most Dominant Ever will have to morph into “The Big Transformation”.

For Miami’s sake, he has to. At this point, it’s all about his legacy.