Former Boston Celtics big man Kevin McHale twice won the NBA Sixth Man Award in 1984 and 1985. Bill Walton won the award in Boston in the twilight of his career in 1986. Shaquille O’Neal wants no part of that history.
O’Neal has no aspirations for the award, despite claiming to be content in his role off the bench and how committed to winning and bonding with his teammates he has appeared to be. But when asked if he were interested in the title, he responded definitively, according to ESPN.
“No … About four years ago, I gave up on the concept of winning individual awards,” he said. “I’m focusing on the big one at the end of the year.”
Instead, he claimed to be only interested in championships — in typically odd O’Neal fashion.
“It’s not for me,” he said. “What’s important to me is the six balls I have on the desk of my office at the top of a big building.”
Asked to elaborate, he said, “I’m the CEO of the company. I just don’t have the building yet.”
NESN.com will showcase one Moment of Shaq every day until the Celtics open the season against the Heat on Oct. 26 at the TD Garden.
Monday, Oct. 18: Shaq speaks LSU.
