Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal recently voiced his surprise and disappointment after Lakers owner Jeannie Buss left him out of her all-time 5 most important Lakers list. Buss named Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, and coach Phil Jackson as her selections.
O’Neal, who played a pivotal role in leading the Lakers to three consecutive championships alongside Bryant and Jackson during the early 2000s, reposted Buss’ list on Instagram with a caption that simply read, “whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.” Alongside the comment, he shared a picture of himself with a seemingly shocked facial expression.
The omission of O’Neal from Buss’ list sparked discussions among fans and the basketball community. Many acknowledged the impact and dominance displayed by O’Neal during his tenure with the Lakers, making his exclusion surprising to some.
While Buss’ list represents her personal perspective on the most important figures in Lakers history, it is evident that O’Neal’s absence struck a chord with the legendary center.
