Shaquille O’Neal’s Unconventional Move: Transferring a Teammate After Argument

By Adiel Kalonji | NBA Editor

Although he did not hesitate to make his locker room comrades laugh with numerous pranks, Shaquille O’Neal could also be unscrupulous in the event of a disagreement. Recently, he recounted the time he had a teammate transferred after an argument.

From the day he set foot on the floor in an official match, Shaquille O’Neal has become a terror in the league. Beneath his appearance as a “big, kind bear” hid a monster on the field, and the Hall Of Famer always showed this double side of his personality. When he wasn’t there making jokes to amuse the gallery, he would sometimes get into trouble with anyone, even some of his teammates.

We can think in particular of his disagreements with Kobe Bryant, which led Diesel to leave the Lakers. But when he was still a member of the Magic, the opposite scenario happened. Dans The Big Podcast, we were able to get details on the time when the legend, who was then just a rookie, was behind the departure of the former Terry Catledge.

Magic veteran transferred because of Shaq

When I got to Orlando, Terry Catledge said to me, “You’re going to have to pay me to get No. 33 back.” Brother, I don’t pay you, I don’t care. He was arrogant. He said, “Oh yes, you can have it.” But you’re going to have to buy it. Young man you make so much money. » I had this player traded because he did not want to give me number 33. There is a statute of limitations now. Yes, I did that Terry Catledge. It’s me who did it.

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While he sported the number 33 during his college years with the LSU Tigers, Shaq was forced to change to the number 32 during his debut with the Magic, because his lucky number was held by Terry Catledge. The latter then decided to abuse his status as a veteran of the team by refusing to give up his number without receiving compensation of at least $50,000.

This situation had cast a chill in the relationship between the two men, leading the Florida franchise to make a choice between them. It was out of the question for the leaders to part with the 1st pick of the 1992 Draft and the future of their team. The former power forward therefore had to pack his bags and never returned to the league the following year.

Holding a Terry Catledge jersey. https://t.co/okfnQPlt0p

— V.P. of Common Sense (@Stehny) June 24, 2017

Shaq holding Terry Catledge’s jersey.

Shaquille O’Neal may be a teasing character, but he is not without his vices. Terry Catledge had to learn this the hard way when he was transferred by the Magic because he refused to give up his No. 33 to the capricious pivot.

2024-04-13 19:40:00
#Mercilessly #Shaq #traded #player