Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal says the 2002 NBA Finals against the New Jersey Nets was “boring.”
The Lakers swept the Nets and Shaq won his third Finals MVP by averaging 36.3 points and 12.3 rebounds in the series.
“It was boring,” the Lakers icon told Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson of Heavy. “It was boring because, what was that center’s name – Todd MacCulloch? Todd MacCulloch playing me? Stop it. You know what’s crazy? I actually got mad when we were playing in Jersey. You think Todd MacCulloch is going to stop me at the crib in Jersey in front of my grandma and grandpa?….Sheeeeeit! No. Stop it.”
Shaq shot 59.5 percent from the field in that series versus New Jersey as the Purple and Gold finished off their three-peat. It was the final ring O'Neal and Kobe Bryant won together as teammates in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles destroyed New Jersey in that series from start to finish. Nets fans are still haunted when anyone brings that sweep up.
Shaquille O'Neal's run with the Lakers was so legendary. The Big Diesel finished his LA career with averages of 27.0 points and 11.8 rebounds in the regular season. The Big Aristotle was the 2000 regular season MVP and established himself as one of the greatest players in franchise history.
Jason Kidd's Nets got swept in back-to-back Finals by the Lakers and San Antonio Spurs. Shaq won his fourth title with Dwyane Wade on the Miami Heat, while Kobe got two more rings with the Lakers once they acquired Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies.
Shaq is one of the most dominant players in NBA history. He put up 23.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game during his Hall of Fame career. The Lakers retired O'Neal's number 34.
Before the 2019-20 NBA season got suspended, the Lakers had the top record in the West led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
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