Shaquille O’Neal
The Diesel. Superman. The Big Aristotle. The Big Shaqtus. Whatever nickname you called him, Shaq was always larger than life… in more ways than one. When he arrived in Orlando in 1992, he was an athletic freak who could run the floor like a power forward, but possessed the power of a professional wrestler. But after his career took off and he left town for Los Angeles, his body mass began to grow as much as his NBA success and his star power. By the time he turned 30, Shaq had reportedly gained 30 pounds from his rookie season in Orlando — but many believe that number is much greater.
For all of his talent, the weight he carried began to affect his rebounding, lateral movement, and overall ability to get his shot off in different ways. It’s a testament to that talent that he was still one of the most dominant forces in the NBA (4x NBA Champion) despite those self-induced shortcomings. Many NBA experts believe Shaq could have easily won a few more championships throughout his career if he cared more about his health.