Did Shaq Quit on the Heat: Yes or No?

[The Diesel]

Hey guys,

As a Shaq fan, I've been thinking about this for a while now and I wanted to get the majority opinion as to whether Shaq really quit on Miami or not.

The critics say he did, others say he didn't.

I bring this up because he's one of the greatest players of all time who was part of one of the most controversial trades in NBA History and whether he quit on a team that was paying him $ 20,000,000 dollars a year.

There is evidence to both arguments.

Do you guys think he quit on the Heat?

I thought this would make for an interesting discussion...personally, I don't think he did.

What do you guys think?

[shawngoat23]

I think he quit. Then again, I haven't had a high opinion of Shaq since his Magic days (or his game since his Laker days).

[Rampage]

If you watched him on the Heat last season and then on the Suns, it's obvious he was giving much more effort w/ Phoenix.

[The Diesel]

Thanks for your opinions; keep them coming!

I have mixed feelings; on one hand, I can understand if he quit because of how poorly Riley treated him before the trade.

On the other hand, to quit on a team that pays you $ 20,000,000 is inexcusable.

It did seem he was giving more effort with Phoenix, but he was also healthier and probably energized that he was on a contender after the horrible season Miami was having pre-trade.

Also, he made it seem like Phoenix gave him much better medical treatment than Miami, but I remember reading an article in which Miami apparently offered him the same treatment, and he obviously refused it. (If that is true)

To quit on a team is wrong, but I can understand why he did if he indeed quit on the team this year when you consider what happened.

I'm having a tough time deciding whether he quit or not, so I wanted to get everybody else's opinions on this issue.

Thanks!

Personally, while I think that he somewhat quit on Riley, I don't think he COMPLETELY quit on the team when you consider that he was playing injured the whole season before the trade.

Players who play injured don't quit on their teams...but there is evidence to prove that he just didn't want to be in Miami anymore.

[microfib4thewin]

The Heat training staff bought him an alter G treadmill for PERSONAL use, and he never became serious at improving his conditioning. Those treadmills cost about $75,000, so while it may not be much for an NBA team, it's still an equipment with a hefty cost. As good as the Phoenix medical staff has been with Amare and Hill, they're not miracle workers who can make someone suddenly play and gets a double double every night when before he claimed he couldn't play on the court. Shaq also attempted to buyout his contract with Miami before he got traded, with his comment about not having to play with Quinn he probably did quit on the team.

[The Diesel]

To me, I think if Shaq quit, it's because he felt Riley quit on him first.

I think there's certainly strong evidence that Shaq quit, but I don't blame him for being extremely angry with his Head Coach (who also happens to be the GM) who treated him like garbage this year and screwed up the team in the Summer.

However, to just quit on your team is inexcusable and it seems like Shaq is lying about the fact that the Phoenix medical staff were using different methods than the Heat staff.

He should be ashamed of himself if that is true.

I DO think he somewhat quit on the team, but I can't blame him for being furious with Riley.

[6_Rings]

he provoked Riley into trading him because he didn't want to play in his first non-playoff team.

[Malinhion]

I still love Shaq but I think he quit when Dwyane wasn't healthy to start the season. Coming off a sweep can be hard and O'Neal wasn't into it.

[dockingsched]

can you elaborate on the horrific injustices that riley committed against shaq that makes you think its ok to quit?

[360]

he provoked Riley into trading him because he didn't want to play in his first non-playoff team.

My thoughts exactly. When Zo went down, he knew he could no longer take half the season off like he had done the previous two years. With a depleted roster and an ailing Wade, he was on the verge of missing the playoffs for the first time in his career. His ego wasn't going to let that happen. So he picks a fight with Riley, knowing that Riley is the wrong guy to mess with. He also knew that Riley wasn't going to unleash him out East, and all of the crappy teams in the West had no players of value that Riley would want to trade for and that the only teams willing to take on his age and ridiculous contract was a playoff team looking to add that final piece. So he knew he was likely to be traded to one of the better teams out West. He made a real slimeball move. He wants all of the credit when things are going great, but bails on his teammates and leaves them there to take the beating alone when things are going bad.

[dflash3]

Shaq quit on the team but I can't really fault him because everyone pretty much quit when it became apparent the Heat were headed towards a long season filled with losses.

But, I'm still angry at Shaq for attacking the Heat organization after they traded him since he tried to get a buy out in the first place. Not to mention Arison tried very hard to get Shaq traded to a contender where he would be in a better situation to finish out his career as opposed to a rebuilding franchise.

And Shaq didn't quit because Riley quit on him. Shaq became unresponsive to Riley since he probably became annoyed that Riley kept nagging him about getting back on defense and getting into better position on the offensive end.

[CITYOFANGELSX3]

Yeah i think shaq quit.

[guy1]

I don't think he quit, he just wasn't motivated, cause the Heat really weren't going anywhere this season. Payton, Kapono, Posey, and Walker did not return, Dwyane Wade was injured, Zo got injured, so this team really wasn't going to do anything. Obviously Shaq wanted out, but I highly doubt he was the only person from the Heat that wanted the trade. The Heat wanted to trade Shaq too cause they obviously needed to rebuild, so its not like the trade was the result of just Shaq demanding a trade. The trade ended up working out for both parties, cause Shaq went to a contender that he can finish his career with, and the Heat got his monstrous contract out and got a great player in Shawn Marion in return, who's contract will expire next year. And I really don't understand everyone's logic that Shaq seemed much more healthy once he came to the Suns. Didn't he miss like the first 2 weeks with the Suns cause of injury? And by the way in response to some other posters, Shaq did miss the playoffs in his rookie year. I will agree with everyone that says Shaq's comments bashing the Heat were uncalled for.

[KarlMalone32]

The better question might be who did'nt quit on the Heat roster last year? I watched Wade play a bunch of times and he did'nt seem to give a damn his team was down 20+ in many games. Even when it was vs a team that had no one to defend him like the Raptors, he did'nt bring it and just accepted the blowout loss like most of his teammates. Shaq did'nt seem to be giving his best effort either, he can no longer play at a superstar level but his effort was much higher once he got to the Suns. He started jumping into the crowd to save possessions and playing good man to man D much more consistently.

[fallentimes]

They quit on each other. A change of scenery was best for both parties.

[Flash3]

Yes, plain & simple.

[ronnymac2]

That heat team sucked. Every game I watched, shaq, not healthy and older, still couldn't be covered 1-on-1. He was doubled, he'd make the right play and pass out to a shooter, and then they'd miss. Shaq should have averaged 4 assists a game with the heat, but they lost all their shooting during the summer. Also, nobody except wade, and in the beginning of the season, penny, knew how to get the ball into shaq. He'd have position, and they just didn't get him the ball right. Then he got even more injured.

I wouldn't say he really quit on the team. He played as well as he could and continued to make the right basketball plays (like passing back to open players) even when his team sucked and he was injured. I'd say it was more that he wasn't motivated to go above and beyond what he was doing in order to help the team. There was really nothing he could do though. On days where he was the most valuable player on the team (meaning when wade was injured and shaq wasn't), he's not going to look good, simply because he can't carry a team anymore at his age, let alone a crappy team. When he went to the suns, he had a better role. Thus, his stats and energy level went up.

[Flash3]

That heat team sucked. Every game I watched, shaq, not healthy and older, still couldn't be covered 1-on-1. He was doubled, he'd make the right play and pass out to a shooter, and then they'd miss. Shaq should have averaged 4 assists a game with the heat, but they lost all their shooting during the summer. .

Shaq has NEVER averaged 4 assists in his 15/16 year career before, ever! -- What makes you so confident he should've averaged 4 assists with that team the previous year?

Also, nobody except wade, and in the beginning of the season, penny, knew how to get the ball into shaq. He'd have position, and they just didn't get him the ball right. Then he got even more injured.

Penny & Wade would get him the ball in his comfort zone, yet more times than not, Shaq would find a way to draw an offensive foul, giving the ball over to the other team....

I wouldn't say he really quit on the team.

Then what would you say? -- Because HE DID!

Come on! He was perfectly healthy all of a sudden a week or so after being traded to Phoenix? Yet, all along here, with the SAME DAMN treatment we were giving him in Miami, it didn't work, but in Phoenix it did? -- (and this is recorded stuff)

[jax98]

Just a tiny note.

Shaq averaged 3.8 APG in 99-00 which is very impressive.

Still not 4, though

[Axel]

Eh, I don't know if Shaq actually quit on the Heat.

He was just as ineffective in Miami as he was in Phoenix. Face it, he's washed up.