Most fans assume that Shaquille O’Neal’s dissatisfaction with the Orlando Magic began when the organization refused to trust him enough to offer a $100 million contract extension. However, according to Nick Anderson, the truth was far more complex.
The seven-foot center had reportedly made up his mind long before the 1995-96 season ended that he would leave Orlando, as he casually joked about it with his teammates during daily practice sessions, subtly giving everyone else a heads-up about his state of mind.
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Anderson on O’Neal already being determined to leave the Magic
When Michael Jordan initially retired to pursue a baseball career, the NBA throne was wide open. Even though the Magic took some time, the tandem of Penny Hardaway and Shaq seized the opportunity by leading the Magic to the Finals in 1995. Moreover, with the team already being tested in a grueling seven-game series in the Eastern Conference Finals, O’Neal was certain that his team had all the ingredients to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy. However, them suffering a clean sweep against the Houston Rockets in the Finals shattered that illusion.
Then, in the following season, while the Magic improved their win tally to 60 wins in the regular season, O’Neal knew that his ideal destination wasn’t Orlando. Thus, when the team was eliminated in the ECFs against the Chicago Bulls, the contract negotiations in the summer of ’96 upset Shaq and motivated him to be lured by Jerry West’s $120 million offer to join the Los Angeles Lakers.
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“Shaq used to make comments in practice like, ‘I’ll see you all with my new team next year,’ stuff like that,” Anderson said.”It wasn’t a surprise for me. I was certain that we had some great years to come, with Shaq and Penny. I was really looking forward to that.”
Contract disagreement was only the last stage before leaving
From Shaq’s perspective, it wasn’t just about multi-million-dollar contracts; it was about direction. Even before negotiations began, he might have sensed that the Magic were mismanaging their roster and failing to make that final push toward sustained contention. For a player of his ambition and charisma, Los Angeles represented more than just financial gain; instead, it was a platform for O’Neal to elevate his legacy, expand his brand, and play under brighter lights.
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This entire episode illustrates a recurring truth in NBA history that most fans tend to overlook: superstar departures rarely happen overnight. Put simply, it is never a single miscommunication that prompts a star to part ways with an organization that drafted him; instead, it is a gradual accumulation of frustration and mistrust.
By the time the front office finally realizes the magnitude of their error, the damage has already been done, and that was precisely the case that happened with “The Big Aristotle.” Who knows, at least as per Anderson’s admission, had the Magic done things according to the wishes of a young O’Neal, he would have never entertained the idea of parting ways with the team that drafted him.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Nov 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.