Shaquille O'Neal
ONE CAREER THREE-POINTER: FEB. 16, 1996
The NBA's three-point shooting percentage has risen from last season's 33.9% to 36.6% this year, but that's no thanks to Shaquille O'Neal, who hasn't even attempted a three-pointer since the 2001--02 season. Indeed, of Shaq's 25,670 career points through Sunday—11th alltime—only three have come from beyond the arc, on a 26-foot heave he unleashed for the Magic late in the first half of a rout over Milwaukee. "A desperation thing, with time running down," he says.
The 35-year-old Shaq, who was averaging 16.6 points for the Heat this season, swears he has one other three on his highlight reel—"I made one in Orlando off the glass against the Knicks," he says—but his imagination may be running wild. According to the NBA's official statistics, the big fella didn't even attempt a three in 17 games against the Knicks while with Orlando.
In any event Shaq says the odds of his repeating the feat are "100 to 1. The only way would be if I had 97 points and I'm trying to tie Wilt Chamberlain [and his single-game point record]. Then I'll probably step out and shoot the three."
PHOTO
JOHN BIEVER (O'NEAL)