Shaquille O’Neal announces he’s “about to retire” ending 19-year NBA career

Fifteen-time All-Star center and four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal announced he will retire from the league Wednesday, June 1, in a video on a social media website, marking the end of an illustrious 19-year professionial basketball career.

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Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal (R) kisses the Most Valuable Player trophy as teammate Kobe Bryant kisses the NBA Finals trophy as they celebrate in the locker room after winning the 2000 NBA Finals. O'Neal, who announced on Twitter he plans to retire, won four NBA championships in his 19-year career.

MIKE BLAKE / REUTERS

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal hold up the Championship and MVP trophys after game four of the NBA Finals against the New Jersey Nets at Continental Airlines Arena 12 June, 2002. It was the Lakers third consecutive title.

MATT CAMPBELL / AFP

Shaquille O'Neal grabs a rebound in front of Minnesota Timberwolves Sam Cassell (L) and Kevin Garnett during Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference finals in Los Angeles, May 25, 2004.

LUCY NICHOLSON / REUTERS

Forest Heights Elementary School pre-kindergartener Zion Vance waits for a kiss by Miami Heat basketball star Shaquille O'Neal during O'Neal's visit to the school in Baton Rouge, La. on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004. O'Neal, who played basketball for Lousiana State University, was in town to give a speech to LSU student athletes.

RICHARD ALAN HANNON / AP

Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal (L) strips the ball away from Detroit Pistons center Ben Wallace (C) during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference NBA Finals in Miami June 2, 2005. O'Neal won an NBA championship with the Heat in 2006 -- his fourth following three consecutive championships with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000-02.

MARC SEROTA / REUTERS

Miami's Shaquille O'Neal looks for an open teammate while being guarded by Toronto Raptors' Rafael Araujo during a 2005 game. O'Neal finishes his career with four NBA championships, three NBA Finals MVP awards and 15 All-Star appearances.

STEVE MITCHELL / AP

Shaquille O'Neal fouls Dallas Mavericks' guard Devin Harris during Game 6 of the 2006 NBA finals. At 7-foot-1 and more than 300 pounds, O'Neal's size made him a dominant post presence during his 19-year NBA career.

CHARLES TRAINOR JR

Shaquille O'Neal, nicknamed "Shaq", "The Diesel", and most recently, "The Big Shamrock", played for the Phoenix Suns from 2008-09. O'Neal played for six teams during his 19-year career.

Paul Connors / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Former Cleveland Cavaliers teammates LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal mix it up at their first NBA media day as teammates. O'Neal played for the Cavaliers during the 2009-10 season.

NBA basketball player Shaquille O'Neal makes an appearance onstage with 2009 National Spelling Bee champion Kavya Shivashankar (L) after the semi-finals of the 2010 National Spelling Bee in Washington June 4, O'Neal was known for his charismatic personality during his 19-year NBA career.

MOLLY RILEY / REUTERS

Boston Celtics center Shaquille O'Neal announced he's "about to retire" Wednesday, June 1, in a video on a social media website, marking the end of the 15-time All-Star's illustrious 19-year NBA career.

BRIAN SNYDER / REUTERS

Injured Boston Celtics center Shaquille O'Neal (L) talks to teammate Ray Allen on the bench during the first quarter of Game 1 of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series against the New York Knicks in Boston on April 17. Much of O'Neal's first and final season with the Celtics was marred by injuries.

BRIAN SNYDER / REUTERS

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