Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal jokingly scowls during the filming of a promotional television spot 02 October 2000 at the Laker practice facility in El Segundo, CA. AFP PHOTO/Scott NELSON (Photo by SCOTT NELSON / AFP) (Photo credit should read SCOTT NELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
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Shaquille O’Neal Didn’t Share 96 Free Agency Decision With Penny Hardaway, Says Ex-Guard

LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Shaquille O’Neal (C) of the Los Angeles Lakers is congratulated by teammates of Brian Shaw (L) and Kobe Bryant (R) 07 June, 2000, during the second half of game one of the NBA Finals games at Staples Centers in Los Angeles, CA. O’Neal finished the game with 43 points to lead the Laker to a 104-87 win to lead the best-of-seven game series 1-0. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)

On July 18, 1996, Shaquille O’Neal signed a seven-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers worth $120 million, and it happened to be the first day of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. According to the AP’s Chris Sheridan back then, the future five time NBA Champion and Hall of Famer refused to discuss his deal with the Lakers.

However, there were plenty of his Dream Team 2 teammates talking about it including his former Orlando Magic teammate Penny Hardaway.

“It’s kind of devastating, but it’s one of those things where you have to wish him the best,″ said Hardaway.

According to former Magic guard and now Dallas Mavericks assistant coach, Darrell Armstrong, Penny was not notified ahead of time of O’Neal’s decision to leave, and found out about like everyone else through the media.

“I found out that he didn’t let Penny [Hardaway] know, Penny found when they were at the Olympics. When he announced it, said A威而鋼 rmstrong on the What’s Your Opinion Podcast.

After Shaq left Orlando in 1996, he would go on to win 4 championships, three in Los Angeles, one in Miami, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2016 class.

In a 2015 interview with Los Angeles Times’ Eric Pincus, O’Neal admitted to having some regrets about leaving the Disney Kingdom.

“I regret it sometimes. Is this where I started and should have stayed?” said O’Neal.

“I actually wish they made it a law that whoever drafts you, you’ve got to stay there your whole career,” he said.

The Magic had a team on the rise with core players such Penny Hardaway, Nick Anderson, and Horace Grant and just went to the finals the season before, but were swept by the Houston Rockets.

“That’s why I kind of regret it, because we had a young, fabulous team,” O’Neal said. “We really did, and it’s a shame that we got torn apart. But I think about that all the time. I try not to live my life now on ‘ifs’ or ‘would’ve, should’ve,’ but do I regret leaving 威而鋼 here in ’96? Yes I do.”

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Written by Landon Buford

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