Shaquille O'Neal Disagrees on Weight as Reason for Lakers' 2003 Failur

Shaquille O'Neal Disagrees on Weight as Reason for Lakers' 2003 Failure

The Los Angeles Lakers saw their reign atop the NBA end in 2002-03, finishing with a 50-32 regular season record but ultimately being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the eventual champions, the San Antonio Spurs. After the season, much of the talk surrounding the Lakers was the need for Shaquille O'Neal to get in shape.

What Happened?

The narrative surrounding Shaq's weight was a major point of discussion in the offseason. However, O'Neal pushed back on this notion, stating that the issue wasn't his fitness level but rather the lack of players who knew their role and were willing to give him the ball.

Why it Matters for Shaquille O'Neal

This response from O'Neal highlights his frustration with the team's performance and his own role within it. By pointing to the need for players to understand their responsibilities, O'Neal is emphasizing the importance of teamwork and cohesion in achieving success.

What Comes Next?

O'Neal's decision to hire a personal trainer, Corey Gilday, marked a significant shift in his approach to fitness and training. The two worked together for three hours a day during the summer, focusing on conditioning, running, strength training, and jiu-jitsu. As a result, O'Neal dropped 35 pounds and saw his body fat lower by at least 3 percent.

However, the Diesel did not get much of the ball the next season with the likes of Karl Malone and Gary Payton joining the team. Shaq still led the NBA in free-throw attempts per game at 10.1, but he averaged a then-career-low 21.5 points per game in 2003-04, and the Lakers were upset in the NBA Finals by the Detroit Pistons.

Shaquille O'Neal's response to criticism about his weight serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in team sports and the importance of individual contributions to overall success. By focusing on the need for players to understand their roles and work together effectively, O'Neal is highlighting the value of teamwork and cohesion in achieving victory.

Shaq's Team Hired a Personal Trainer

And so during a June 2 meeting, Shaq promised head coach Phil Jackson and general manager Mitch Kupchak that he would get himself in better shape during the offseason. O'Neal then tasked his agent at the time, Perry Rogers and his business manager, Mike Parris, with finding the best man for the job.

After considering an extensive list of candidates, the duo settled on former Marine Corey Gilday, a certified fitness trainer and nutritionist from Oregon. They contracted Gilday to move to Orlando for the summer and help O'Neal get stronger, leaner, and healthier for the next season.

However, four days after he met with Phil and Mitch, Shaquille pushed back on the narrative that the Lakers were dethroned because he was not in shape.

*"I think the only training I need is players that know their role and players that will give me the (bleeping) ball,"*said O'Neal.

That marked the first time in O'Neal's career as a Laker that he hired a personal trainer. Before that summer, Shaq had always insisted that he would not train or work out during the offseason because it was the only rest his body would get as he was mauled the rest of the year.

*"I got beat up all year. I never came into camp in shape because, one, I gotta rest, and I gotta pay my family back. I missed school plays; they don't wanna hear when the season is over that you gotta go work out. It don't matter how you start, it matters how you finish,"*said O'Neal.

Shaquille O'Neal and Corey Gilday worked out for 3 hours per day during the summer, combining conditioning, running, strength training, and jiu-jitsu. O'Neal dropped 35 pounds and saw his body fat lower by at least 3 percent.