The image of Shaquille O’Neal for most fans is the hulking, bruising force that dominated the low post throughout the early 2000s. He was physically bigger and more bruising than everyone else in an era of basketball that valued that physicality and low-post presence.
Shaquille O’Neal was the giant force of the early 2000s, winning titles from 2000-02, reaching the Finals again in 2004 and then again with the Miami Heat in 2006. He was the dominant force in the league for the better part of the 2000s. Rules changed to try to limit his impact and give defenses a chance to defend him.