On this day in 2000, Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O’Neal scored an NBA season-high 61 points to go with 23 rebounds in the Lakers’ 123-103 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. The 1999-2000 Lakers season was one of the most memorable, as the franchise would win their first championship since 1988. The Lakers maintained a 67-15 regular season record and only lost five home games. O’Neal led the team averaging 13.6 rebounds, 3 blocks, and a career best 29.7 points. The Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers 4-2 in the 2000 NBA Finals. In the series O’Neal averaged a ridiculous 16.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 38 points, earning him Finals MVP. The Lakers would go on to three-peat and O’Neal was awarded Finals MVP all three times. O’Neals other accolades include 14x All-NBA Team selections, 3x All-NBA Defensive Second Team, 2x NBA scoring champion, and 15x All-Star. O’Neal was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. O’Neal’s no. 34 was retired by the Lakers and his no. 32 was retired by the Miami Heat.
Today in Sports History: March 6
0