Shaquille O’Neal is ending his Hall of Fame NBA career—not that he’s told the Celtics. The Big Diesel/Shamrock announced his retirement in a brief video posted online today. “We did it. Nineteen years, baby,” he said. “I want to thank you very much, that’s why I’m telling you first, I’m about to retire.” When ESPN asked why he’d announced it that way, he replied, “Once a businessman, always a businessman. I am the emperor of the social media network.”
A Celtics spokesman said O’Neal hadn’t yet told them of his decision, but Rajon Rondo tweeted, “Shout out to @SHAQ on the hall of fame career. One of a kind player.” In an interview with ESPN, Shaq said he was retiring because of his nagging Achilles injury; team doctors said he’d need surgery and a lengthy rehab stint. “I really, really thought about coming back,” he said. But “we’d have the same outcome as this last year—everyone sitting around and waiting for me.” (More Shaquille O'Neal stories.)
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