Shaquille O'Neal is arguably one of the most influential and ground-breaking players in the history of basketball. In addition to his 7 NBA championship rings, he has been an unstoppable force on the court with a unique combination of size, speed, power and agility. On top of that, his public persona is almost as big as he is.
Even if you're not an NBA fan, chances are you've at least heard of Shaquille O'Neal. And while some people may see him as nothing but an old, washed up has-been (he's currently 36), I believe there are many reasons why his presence on the court is still positive for the NBA.
Shaq is a great ambassador for the sport of basketball
Although Shaq has been criticized for his many "business decisions" over the years, there's no denying that he has been a huge presence in terms of endorsements. He currently has more than 10 companies paying him for endorsements including Baskin Robbins, Buick and Icy Hot, just to name a few. And if that's not enough, Shaq has also been under contract with Pepsi for nearly 14 years!
Shaq is a great asset to the NBA in terms of marketing and promotion
In addition, he is also frequently seen doing commercials for The Walt Disney Company, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live and even doing a series of "how-to" videos with Yahoo! At one point, he was considered as a strong candidate for Governor of Florida. Of course, there's no doubt that Shaq is a great ambassador for the sport of basketball as it gets more exposure from other companies who want to be associated with him.
Shaq still has game on the court
Even though he is 36, Shaq can still play. As of right now, he leads the NBA in field goal percentage and is ranked 5th in scoring with over 20 points per game. In addition, since becoming a member of the Phoenix Suns this year, O'Neal has been averaging more than 10 rebounds per game. He is no longer the unstoppable force that he used to be, but his presence on the court can still make a huge difference for any team looking to win another NBA championship.
Shaq will remain an ambassador for basketball
While Shaq may not dominate the sport like he used to, there are plenty of other reasons why his presence on the court is good for the NBA. His long-time endorsement deals with Pepsi will keep him in high demand for years to come, whether he plays or not. I also believe that there are many opportunities for him to transition into coaching/management as well if he decides to retire. The bottom line is that Shaq's decorated career is far from over, and his presence on the court will continue to be a positive one for both the player and the sport of basketball.
I am here to tell you that the Big Diesel is not bad for b-ball; in fact, I think he's good for it. The NBA needs him. Here are my three reasons why:
1) He's funny! And with all due respect to Bob Costas and Greg Anthony...nobody is funnier.
2) He makes basketball more interesting. It adds ratings, which brings in the dough. When Shaq plays, people care about what happens to their team-no matter how bad or good they are. People want to see him win another ring...or make a fool of himself
3) He's great for business! And I'm not just saying that because I sell shoes for a living. He's the most dominant player in the game today...and he brings in lots of money.
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