Introduction
Shaquille O’Neal is famous for his height, as many of the best basketball players are – but have you ever wondered how tall he really is? He holds almost legendary status in the basketball world, but how does he compare with the heights of other players?
Shaquille O’Neal is 7 foot 1 inch (2.15 meters), making him an exceptionally tall individual. To put that into perspective, the average American man is 5 foot 8 inches (1.73 meters), meaning that Shaquille O’Neal is around 1 foot and 5 inches taller than many American men. That’s mind-boggling to think about!
Height is obviously an advantage in many sports, especially basketball, so let’s find out more about Shaquille O’Neal’s height, as well as his other physical characteristics.
How Tall Is Shaquille O’Neal?
Shaquille O’Neal is 7 foot 1 inch according to his official records. However, a couple of sites have disputed this, saying that Shaquille O’Neal has stated he’s only 6 foot 11 (2.10 meters). That’s still an impressive height, although not as impressive as 7 foot 1.
However, most official sites agree that Shaquille O’Neal is over 7 feet tall, and this is how he has been described throughout his successful basketball career. With this estimate, he’s among the tallest players to have played for the NBA, although certainly not the tallest.
You might be wondering who the tallest players are, so let’s compare Shaquille O’Neal with some of the other impressively tall individuals operating within this sport.
Firstly, there’s Gheorghe Muresan and Manute Bol, both recorded at an incredible 7 foot 7 inches (2.31 meters). They are among the tallest basketball players ever (although Manute Bol died in 2010).
At only one inch shorter, there are three more impressively tall individuals. Tacko Fall, Shawn Bradley, and Yao Ming are all 7 foot 6 inches (2.29 meters). They stand out in any crowd, and there’s no doubt that their height has contributed to their success as great basketball players.
Next, Mark Eaton and Boban Marjanovic were both billed at 7 foot 4 inches (2.24 meters), although Mark Eaton died in 2021. Arvydas Sabonis and Kristaps Porizingis are tied for the next tallest, at 7 foot 3 inches (2.20 meters).
That’s quite a list of people who are taller than Shaquille O’Neal, but there’s no doubt that he’s still an exceptionally tall person, and his height was definitely an asset when he was still playing. A lot of other players clock in at or around Shaquille O’Neal’s height, partly because being tall gives you such an edge in some aspects of basketball.
Were Shaquille O’Neal’s Parents Tall?
You may not be surprised to learn that Shaquille O’Neal’s parents were both tall, yes. His father was 6 foot 1 inch (1.85 meters) and his mother was 6 foot 2 inches (1.88 meters). Shaquille O’Neal grew very quickly, and had already reached 6 foot 6 inches (1.98 meters) by the time he was 13 years old.
By the age of 16, he was 6 foot 10 inches (2.08 meters), and it was around this time that he began playing basketball properly. It’s very likely that his parents’ genetics contributed to his amazing height, since both were very tall individuals.
How Old Is Shaquille O’Neal?
Born in 1972, Shaquille O’Neal is now 51 years old. He retired from basketball in 2011, after an amazingly successful career. Today, he’s regarded as one of the best centers – and basketball players in general – in history. Even though he has been retired for more than a decade, he’s still a household name in terms of basketball, and individuals everywhere remain amazed by his success.
He achieved a lot in his career, which ran from 1992 to 2011, a full 19 years. He played basketball in college, and was then drafted by the Orlando Magic. He quickly began to enjoy success, winning awards and doing well in match after match. He spent four years with the Orlando Magic, and then signed up with the Los Angeles Lakers.
During his time with them, they won 3 championships. He was then traded to the Miami Heat around 2004. In mid-2007, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns, and in mid-2009, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Finally, he went to the Boston Celtics for his last season between 2010 and 2011, and then he retired.
Over the course of his career, Shaquille O’Neal won many prestigious awards, including the Most Valuable Player 1999-20000, and the 1992-1993 NBA Rookie of the Year. He was also one of the only players ever to win the NBA MVP, All-Star Game MVP, and Finals MVP in a single year, which he did in 2000.
With all of this in mind, it’s no surprise that Shaquille O’Neal is considered one of the greatest basketball players in history, and a lot of his fame can be attributed to this.
It’s interesting to note that Shaquille O’Neal has also released 4 rap albums, and has toured as a DJ, under the name DIESEL. Furthermore, he has appeared in many movies, along with several reality shows, including Shaq Vs. and Shaq’s Big Challenge.
How Much Does Shaquille O’Neal Weigh?
Shaquille O’Neal’s weight has varied during his career, but he has often been around the 325 lb (147 kg) mark. The highest weight listed in the NBA’s database is 360 lb (163 kg). That makes him among the heavier players, which gave him immense power on the court and helped him to succeed.
He was also very nimble for his size and weight, meaning he could take opponents by surprise, and he often used his physique as a weapon to lead his team to success.
Conclusion
As you can see, Shaquille O’Neal is a very tall individual, who is said to be around 7 foot 1 inch. It’s possible that this claim has been somewhat exaggerated by the sport and by fans, but there’s no doubt that he’s got the height needed to be a great basketball player, and that’s partly why he became so famous.
