Shaq’s finals record was 4-2 in NBA Finals series and 17-13 in finals games. Shaq lost his first NBA Finals with the Orlando Magic before winning three straight with the Lakers. He then lost his last finals with the Lakers before winning one more title with the Miami Heat. Shaquille O’Neal was named Finals MVP three times.
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How Many Times Did Shaq Make the Finals?
Shaquille O’Neal made the NBA Finals six times. His teams went 4-2 in those finals series and 17-13 in finals games. You can see details of Shaq’s finals record below.
Shaq’s Team: Orlando Magic
| Year | Result | Games | Opponent |
| 1995 | Lost NBA Finals | 0-4 | Houston Rockets |
Shaq’s Team: Los Angeles Lakers
| Year | Result | Games | Opponent |
| 2000 | Won NBA Finals | 4-2 | Indiana Pacers |
| 2001 | Won NBA Finals | 4-1 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2002 | Won NBA Finals | 4-0 | New Jersey Nets |
| 2004 | Lost NBA Finals | 1-4 | Detroit Pistons |
Shaq’s Team: Miami Heat
| Year | Result | Games | Opponent |
| 2006 | Won NBA Finals | 4-2 | Dallas Mavericks |
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Who Did Shaq Beat in the NBA Finals?
Shaq was at his peak for the Lakers threepeat. At that point in his career, he was a complete physical freak who could not be stopped on offense. He was a really good, but not all-time great, defender. When you put it together, you had a player who was tough to stop.
- In 2000 Shaq’s Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers. That team featured Knick Killer Reggie Miller along with Jalen Rose, Rick Smits and Mark Jackson.
- In 2001 Shaquille O’Neal and the Lakers beat the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers featured the unique talents of Allen Iverson. AI was a bit overrated on defense but he could light it up on offense: he averaged 36 points per game in the series.
- In 2002 Shaq and the Lakers beat an overwhelmed New Jersey Nets team. That team featured future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd and not too much else: Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles were nice players but they were no match for Shaq and Kobe.
- In 2006 Shaq and the Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs featured Dirk Nowitzki and not too much else: Jason Terry and Josh Howard got the next most minutes in the finals after the German superstar.
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Who Did Shaq Lose To In the NBA Finals?
Shaq lost two NBA Finals. The first was when he was still a young player and the second was when the wheels were falling off the Shaq/Kobe Lakers dynasty.
- In 1995 Shaq and the Orlando Magic lost to the Houston Rockets. Those Rockets featured Hakeem Olajuwon but he had plenty of help. They also had Clyde Drexler, Kenny Smith and an all-time role-player in Robert Horry.
- In 2004, Shaq, Kobe and the Lakers lost to the Detroit Pistons. That Pistons team featured Rasheed and Ben Wallace, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton.
How Many Finals MVPs Did Shaq Win?
Shaq won three NBA Finals MVPs in his four NBA championship seasons. All three were for the Lakers
- In 2000 Shaq won Finals MVP when he averaged 38 points, nearly 17 rebounds and 3 blocks per game in the Lakers victory over the Pacers.
- In 2001 Shaq won Finals MVP when averaged 33 points, 16 boards, 5 assists and 3 blocks per game in the Lakers victory over the Sixers.
- In 2002, Shaq again won Finals MVP when he averaged 36 points, 12 boards, 4 assists and 3 blocks per game in the Lakers sweep over the New Jersey Nets.
- In the Heat’s 2006 title, Dwyane Wade won Finals MVP. He was a clear winner averaging 35 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Shaq was the secondary player for that team scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 boards per game for the series.
Who Has More Rings – Shaq or Kobe?
After winning three rings together in the years between 2000 and 2002, Shaq and Kobe went their separate ways.
Shaq won the next ring of the two with his 2006 title with the Heat, but Kobe finished with more rings: 5-4. Kobe won two more titles with the Lakers after Shaq’s departure.
- In 2009 Kobe and the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic. That Magic team featured a young Dwight Howard and others.
- In 2010 Kobe and the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics. That Celtics group had won in 2008 and featured KG, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.
How Does Shaq’s Finals Record Compare to Other Great NBA Players?
Shaq’s Finals record puts him in the top half of this list of all-time NBA greats. He would no doubt trade with players like MJ or Bill Russell, but O’Neal ranks higher than other greats including Larry Bird and Wilt Chamberlain.
| Player | NBA Finals Record |
| John Havlicek | 8-0 |
| Michael Jordan | 6-0 |
| Bill Russell | 11-1 |
| Tim Duncan | 5-1 |
| Kobe Bryant | 5-2 |
| Steph Curry | 4-2 |
| Shaquille O’Neal | 4-2 |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 6-4 |
| Magic Johnson | 5-4 |
| Larry Bird | 3-2 |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | 2-1 |
| Kevin Durant | 2-2 |
| LeBron James | 4-6 |
| Wilt Chamberlain | 2-4 |
| Jerry West | 1-8 |
| Elgin Baylor | 0-7 |
Summary: Shaq’s Finals Record
Shaq was a four-time NBA champion who went 4-2 in NBA Finals series. His teams went 17-13 in finals games. Shaq lost a finals with the Magic before going on to win three straight with the Lakers. He then lost his last finals with the Lakers before winning one more with the Heat.
Featured Image Photo Credit: Adapted from “Shaq” by Bob Bekian is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
I have been a Boston sports fan for more than forty years. I write about games, players and seasons from the past.