Shaquille O'Neal reveals how much he weighed during Lakers' three-peat years / News - Basketnews.com

Shaquille O'Neal has had some weight issues throughout his playing career. Recently, the retired HOF inductee reflected on those fluctuations.

Credit: AP – Scanpix Credit AP – Scanpix

Shaquille O'Neal's weight problems were readily apparent, even when the retired legend was at his peak.

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Of course, that didn't prevent him from winning four championship titles and three straight Finals MVP Awards with the Los Angeles Lakers.

However, O'Neal recently confessed in an appearance on the 'Let's Go!' podcast with Tom Brady and Jim Gray a truth that has remained hidden for more than 20 years.

He disclosed that he weighed 345 lbs (156.5 kilos) when Phil Jackson took over as coach of the team in 1999. After what he described as a "great summer," his weight shot up to 385 lbs (174.6 kilos) the following year. In the final year of the three-peat, when Shaq and Kobe won their third ring by defeating the Nets in the Finals, he further bulked up to 415 lbs (188.2 kilos).

The 2.16 center entered the NBA weighing 133 kilos in 1992 after being drafted by the Orlando Magic. Until recently, the highest weight associated with him was 167 kilos, which is how much the scale showed before he moved to the Miami Heat in 2004.

O'Neal said it was not until he got traded to the Miami Heat that he started to lose weight:

"When I got traded away, Pat Riley had me doing Army drills and I got back to 325 (147.4 kilos)," he revealed.

Shaquille O'Neal's illustrious career was honored with his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2016, a fitting tribute after his retirement in 2011. A 15-time All-Star, Shaq boasts of an impressive 14 All-NBA team selections, three NBA All-Defensive Team selections, and two scoring titles over the course of his remarkable career, during which he reportedly made $286,344,668.

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