Shaquille O’Neal has always had a larger-than-life persona to him. Much of that concerns his enormous size — and, more specifically, Shaq’s height. Not only did Shaquille O’Neal’s height pave the way for one of the greatest careers in NBA history, but it’s also helped him remain in the public spotlight as an analyst, brand ambassador and television star.
You’re probably here to learn more about the Hall of Famer’s incredible size. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about Shaq’s weight and height and how they have impacted his life.
About Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal, better known as “Shaq,” is one of the most dominant players in professional basketball history. Throughout his hall-of-fame career, he collected four NBA Championships, a Rookie Of The Year Award, a Most Valuable Player Award, an Olympic Gold Medal, and was named to the NBA All-Star team 14 times.
Born on March 6, 1972, in Newark, New Jersey, Shaq played for six different teams during his Hall of Fame career. In the 1992 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic drafted him first overall. After four seasons there, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won three of his four titles—the other coming during his ensuing four-year stint with the Miami Heat.
Shaq spent the next few years with the Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers before playing his final season in 2010-11 as a member of the Boston Celtics. In 2016, he was inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
Since retiring, Shaq has been seen almost everywhere, from car insurance commercials to the WWE.
What is Shaq’s Official Height?
Basketball players are known for being above average in size. However, much of Shaq’s success was due to his massive size, allowing him to stand above most others on the court. Shaq’s height is listed at 7 feet, 1 inch (2.16m), and throughout his career, he played at a weight of over 320 lbs (145kg).
His imposing presence and aggressive attitude towards playing made him one of the most feared competitors in basketball history. O’Neal was born into a tall family, with his mother and father measuring north of 6 feet (1.83m). By age 13, he had already surpassed their height by several inches, measuring 6’6″ (1.98m).
A Look at Shaquille O’Neal’s Early Life
Shaquille O’Neal’s stepfather was a military man, and his work forced the family to move abroad during his youth. When Shaq returned to the US for his Junior year of high school, he had reached 6’10” (2.08m) in height. During his 2 seasons at Robert G. Cole High School in San Antonio, TX, Shaq led the team to a record of 68-1. During the 1989 season, he amassed an incredible 791 rebounds, a state record that still stands today.
After high school, Shaq played for Louisiana State University, where he studied business. Following 3 seasons for the Tigers, O’Neal elected to leave college for the ranks of the professional leagues. Despite initially leaving college to go pro, Shaq did keep up with his education, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in General Studies, an MBA, and an Educational Doctorate in Human Resource Development.
Also Read: Shaquille O’Neal’s Children: How Many Kids The NBA Legend Has?
How Does Shaquille O’Neal Size Compare to Other NBA Players?
Generally, NBA centers are the tallest, with over 6’10”, but Shaq was a different beast weighing over 300 lbs. His huge size and exceptional athleticism helped him dominate the league like no one else.
Many NBA Big Men from his time and before him were often compared to the 14-time NBA All-Star. Chinese basketball giant Yao Ming, who joined the NBA in 2002 and played eight seasons, was compared to Shaq due to his tall stature.
Besides him, experts throw Shaq comparisons when they talk about current NBA stars like Victor Wembanyama, Bol Bol, and Rudy Gobert. The 52-year-old legend played against NBA legends Michale Jordan (6’6″), Kobe Bryant (6’6″), and LeBron James (6’9″) and showed dominance.
How Shaq’s Size Impacted His Basketball Career?
As a professional basketball player, O’Neal’s size significantly drove his success. As a center, his role was to protect the area around the basket to allow his team to score and prevent opponents from doing so. His enormous size made him exceptionally well-suited for this position. He averaged over 20 points per game throughout his career, many of which came via his eccentric slam dunks.
With his gigantic frame positioned so close to the net, it wasn’t often that Shaq would miss when shooting. He led the NBA 10 times in percent of shots made, finishing with an astounding career total of over 58%.
Perhaps more impressive was his defensive prowess, as O’Neal finished his career with an average of over 10 rebounds per game and 2 blocked shots, placing him 14th and 8th all-time in those categories.
Is Shaquille O’Neal The Tallest Player in NBA History?
Despite being over 7 feet, Shaq is not the tallest NBA player in history. In the 2024-25 season, four players taller than Shaq will play, including Victor Wembanyama (7’4″) of the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets’ Boban Marjanovic (7’4″), Phoenix Suns Bol Bol (7’3″), and Memphis Grizzlies rookie Zach Edey (7’4″).
Romania’s Gheorghe Muresan, who played in the NBA from 1993 to 200, and Sudan’s Manute Bol (1985-94) are the tallest NBA players ever at 7’7″. Yao Ming is third on the list at 7’6″, while Shaq is not even among the top 30 tallest NBA players ever.
Given his incredible work ethic, charisma, and immense size, it is no surprise that Shaq has been successful beyond sports. That includes his music, broadcasting, entertainment, and business endeavors. Just like when he’s playing ball, if it looks like Shaq wants it, he is gonna get it!
Also Read: Shaq Shoes: What Size Shoe Does Shaquille O’Neal Wear?
