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This probably isn't how Shaquille O'Neal wants to be remembered. O'Neal is one of the greatest and most dominant players in NBA history. He started his legendary career with the Orlando Magic before emerging as an MVP and four-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat. Most remember O'Neal in a Magic, Lakers or Heat uniform. What's easier to forget are his stops with the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. His time in Boston in particular has become a meme for reasons O'Neal won't be happy with. MORE: How Celtics' Paul George Trade Compares to Clippers' Paul George Trade Celtics Shaq meme, explained O'Neal joined the Celtics in 2010. He averaged career lows of 9.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 37 games, a far cry from the unstoppable force that terrorized the NBA for almost two decades. It turned out to be the final season of O'Neal's Hall of Fame career. His decline wasn't a huge surprise. O'Neal was only two years removed from being an All-Star and earning an All-NBA Third Team selection, but he was already declining in Cleveland and joined the Celtics at 38 years old with over 1,000 games and 41,000 minutes under his belt. That hasn't stopped people from remembering that version of O'Neal as far past his prime. In fact, Celtics Shaq has become shorthand for being washed. Who's your team's version of Celtics Shaq? pic.twitter.com/ZXS7s2xGGL — Hoops (@Hoopss) August 5, 2025 O'Neal is probably aware of the meme. He didn't say "Celtics Shaq," but NFL QB Kirk Cousins told O'Neal in 2024 that he didn't want to end his career the same way O'Neal did, specifically calling out his stops with the Suns and Celtics. "I want this to be my final stop," Cousins said. "I don't wanna do the deal — no offense, but I don't wanna go play for the Suns and the Celtics at the end. I wanna finish with the Heat, if you will, and be done." "Same thing I said," O'Neal responded. MORE: This Jaylen Brown-Larry Bird Take Has Celtics Fans Losing It Was Celtics Shaq that bad? O'Neal was better in Boston than people remember. The Hall of Fame center started all but one game he appeared in for a Celtics team that was fresh off a Finals run and finished the regular season with 56 wins. Boston posted a 28-9 record in the games he played, and he shot a career-high 66.7 percent from the field. O'Neal also had some big performances. His most memorable was a 25-point, 11-rebound effort against the New Jersey Nets. O'Neal's biggest problem was that he couldn't stay healthy in Boston. Knee and Achilles injuries limited him and ultimately contributed to the end of his career. Unfortunately for O'Neal, that nuance gets lost to history. Shaquille O'Neal stats by team | Team | Games | PPG | RPG | BPG | FG% | | Lakers | 514 | 27.0 | 11.8 | 2.5 | 57.5% | | Magic | 295 | 27.2 | 12.5 | 2.8 | 58.1% | | Heat | 205 | 19.6 | 9.1 | 1.9 | 59.6% | | Suns | 103 | 16.5 | 9.0 | 1.4 | 60.9% | | Cavaliers | 53 | 12.0 | 6.7 | 1.2 | 56.6% | | Celtics | 37 | 9.2 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 66.7% |