the BIG Aristotle, the Big CACTUS, SHAQ DIESEL, or just SHAQ.......calls it a Career after 19 SEASONS......Where does SHAQ Rank among the NBA ELITE?

I remember to this day when the most powerful NBA Player I have ever seen was torched 4 straight games in the 1995 NBA FINALS by a man much smaller than him........Hakeem QLAJUWON of the HOUSTON ROCKETS destroyed BIG SHAQ in the 1995 NBA FINALS at only 6'10" and around 250.

But that was a chink in the ARMOR compared to all the Positive Highlights SHAQ endured over an illustrious 19-year NBA Career that saw the BIG Fella make 15 NBA All-Star Appearances, 3 NBA FINALS MVP Trophies, 1 NBA MVP Regular Season Trophy, which in the BLUEDDUE'S Estimation is quite absurd considering he was the most dominant player in the league for a bout an 15 year stretch. and 4-Time World Champion.

A huge Human-Being from High School where he starred at COLE HS in San Antonio TEXAS and then on his way to LSU University BATON ROUGE, Louisiana........SHAQ was 3 and out there before becoming the #1 Overall Pick in the 1992 NBA Draft to the Orlando MAGIC and the BIG MOUSE.

There in O=TOWN SHAQ later teamed up with one Anfernee "PENNY" HARDAWAY to become the baddest duo the NBA has seen since PIP AND JORDAN.

n unstoppable player from DAY1.....SHAQ was bound for greatness and had he stayed in ORLANDO with PENNY and that Group they would've undoubtedly became WORLD CHAMPS at some point but looking at the EASTERN Conference back then everything came through the BULLS and MIKE JORDAN.......so the DIESEL shocked everyone in 1996 and became a LOS ANGELES LAKERS.

From there in HOLLYWOOD, which was a match made in HEAVEN, C'mon SHAQ'S Charisma and the LIGHTS of HOLLYWOOD........FIGURE it out. The "LOGO", LAKERS GM Jerry WEST at the TIME pulled the Signing off and the LAKERS built a Champion around SHAQ but it wasn't until the 1999-2000 Season when the LAKESHOW acquired Coach PHIL JACKSON.......that the LAKERS took off.

Add to hat fray a 1996 Draft day trade of VLADE DIVAC to the CHARLOTTE HORNETS for the HORNETS pick KOBE BRYANT of Lower Merion HS in Pennsylvania.........the LAKESHOW was about to be in full effect.

It ddin't happen overnight but eventually SHAQ won 3 straight championships with the LAKERS from 1999-2002 and on their way to a fourth when the new-look PISTONS led by Mr BIG SHOT BILLUPS, RIP HAMILTON, who was a RIVAL of KOBES in HIGH SCHOOL at Coatesville PA as RIP later Starred at UCONN before going PRO, Rasheed WALLACE, Tay PRINCE, and Ben WALLACE.

The LAKESHOW stunned after that loss surprisingly broke the TEAM up and good ol' PAT RILEY knew SHAQ had a couple more Seasons left in him and brought SHAQ to 305 where SHAQ teamed up with up and coming STAR Dwayne WADE and won SHAQ'S 4 Championship, the HEAT'S 1st and WADE'S 1st.

Like FATHER TIME.......Injuries along with AGE catch up to players sooner or later an SHAQ is no different as both have caught up to him and TODAY announced his retirement from the NBA.

Although we have seen the last of the BIG RETIREE.......something tells me he will be all over the TV Still as they get no more CHARISMATIC than DIESEL.

Where does SHAQ rank among the NBA ELITE? I think he is TOP 10 all-time..........as far as CENTERS.....SHAQ, RUSSELL, and WILT may be the most dominant ever to man the MIDDLE of an NBA FLoor ........and SHAQ was the most dominant player of his generation and if it wasn't for a guy like AIR 23 SHAQ may have won more NBA MVP'S...........

The BLUEDUDE puts SHAQ right there with Bill RUSSELL and WILT CHAMBERLAIN as the BEST 3 Centers of ALL-Time

GOOD LUCK BIG RETIREE in your future endeavors.......the BLUEDUDE will see you on the other side as well.