Shaquille O'Neal Retires: Shaq Announces Retirement On Twitter (VIDEO)

Shaquille O'Neal announced on Twitter that he is retiring after 19 seasons in the NBA.

"We did it. 19 years baby. I want to thank you very much," O'Neal said in a video posted on his Twitter account. "That's why I'm telling you first. I'm about to retire. Love you. Talk to you soon."

The 15-time All-Star signed a two-year deal with the Boston Celtics last summer, but he was only able to play in 37 games in the regular season due to an Achilles injury.

According to Jackie MacMullan of ESPN, Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss said that O'Neal hasn't informed the team of his plans.

O'Neal was selected with the first overall pick in the 1992 draft by the Orlando Magic.

The Diesel is 5th all-time in career points with 28,596. He won the 1993 Rookie of the Year award and the 2000 NBA MVP.

The 39-year-old won three NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Miami Heat. He also played for the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics.

WATCH:

Comments

[emperance]

12:41 AM on 06/04/2011

Shaq should have done whatever it took to stay with Lakers.
But he sold out Kobe.
Now, he's with a former porn actress.
Kobe is still relevant, Shaq IS NOT.

[an]

02:50 PM on 06/10/2011

well obviously he isn't relevant in the nba, he's retired. didn't you read the article?

[Greatest Darthfruit]

02:03 PM on 06/03/2011

finally!!

[Unrepentantliberal]

11:10 AM on 06/03/2011

How great would he of been if he'd had Jordan's drive and commitment instead of his Shaq-tacular approach to the game?

[an]

02:53 PM on 06/10/2011

true, but he was the most dominant player in the nba for about 6 years late 90's through early 2000's.

[Unrepentantliberal]

11:07 AM on 06/03/2011

I wonder, as great as he was, how great he could of been if he really stayed in shape and learned to shoot free throws?

[Justin Marsh]

02:07 AM on 06/03/2011

Next stop: Springfield, Mass, and the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Congratulations on a great career!

[cybolt]

12:56 AM on 06/03/2011

My last add on this...

O’Neal was a dominating player, but for those of us who have watched bball for awhile, he really was a huge disappointment. Entering the league out of LSU, there were many of us who thought he had the talent to become the best center ever… scoring like Kareem, moving gracefully and rebounding like Russell, and doing it all with the size and strength of Wilt.

He showed *that* kind of potential.

Unfortunately, he possessed Shaq's level of discipline, drive and determination, which earned him a spot *well* behind the Big Three. In fact, his casual attitude was a frequent sore spot for us longtime LA fans. Oh, he helped produce a few rings but he left just as many on the table.

Shaq’s legacy in the NBA won’t be one of overall greatness but of uniqueness.

And I guess there’s something to be said for that…. somewhere.

[johnnygoodwud]

07:05 PM on 06/02/2011

thanks for the memories big man. just don't become the brett farve of basketball, and stay away from the celtics.

[jmar829]

05:56 PM on 06/02/2011

As a life long Bulls fan, I never liked Shaq. Today I find myself actually thinking I'm going to miss him. Thanks for all of the entertaining years Shaq Diesel! HOF LOCK!

[Jake Thomas]

04:58 PM on 06/02/2011

Nineteen seasons, what can you say. Awesome!

[farmilyman]

03:31 PM on 06/02/2011

Should have stayed in Orlando and had your number retired there.

[jhNY]

02:12 PM on 06/02/2011

Not much of a basketball fan myself, though I did see Shaq play when he was still in college in a game wherein he dwarfed all other players on court to a degree that was literally laughable, but shouldn't this news item lead on the page? He is after all, one of the greatest players to play the game, all-time.

[LogicalMathMan]

01:18 PM on 06/02/2011

As an ardent, and 25 year Lakers' fan, I'd like to thank Shaq for the 3 rings he won for the franchise. I am also surprised he survived 19 seasons. Watching him slow down was painful and the harsh reality is that he chose to stick around those last few years because there was no viable inside threat, but for Dwight Howard.

Wishing you the very best Big Fella. Not too many will know of your magnanimity, but, we will always remember how we loved you witticisms especially in post-game interviews. Good luck!

[Ed C Atlanta]

01:12 PM on 06/02/2011

So long big fella,you deserve the rest, gonna miss you chugging up and down the court..

[SA Texas 2]

11:58 AM on 06/02/2011

He was a beast in his younger days with the Magic. Long live the good old days when The NBA was worth tuning into.

[TXconfidnz]

12:03 PM on 06/02/2011

I hear that! I don't even pay a fraction of the attention, currently, as I did to the NBA in the '90s. Part of it comes from Jordan's and Ewing's departures, but most of it comes from the charade that the NBA has become and the even worse refereeing. I remember actually being interested in the NBA draft at one time.

[moreobamafarrakhanluv]

10:37 AM on 06/02/2011

you'll be missed big guy