Highlights
Shaquille O’Neal first announced his retirement Wednesday
He says he will give more details at the news conference Friday
The 39-year-old is fifth on the all-time NBA scoring list
(CNN) — Four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal will formally announce his retirement from basketball Friday during a news conference at his Florida home.
O’Neal first said Wednesday afternoon that he was going to hang up his jersey. The 39-year-old posted a link to a video on his Twitter account.
In a brief message he said: “We did it. Nineteen years, baby. I want to thank you very much. That’s why I’m telling you first. I’m about to retire. Love you. Talk to you soon.”
O’Neal has been dogged by injuries in the latter stages of his career and played only 37 games for the Boston Celtics this season after struggling with an Achilles tendon problem.
He returned for two playoff games against the Miami Heat but managed just 12 minutes and he told an ESPN reporter that he didn’t want to let Celtics fans down.
O’Neal won three titles with the Los Angeles Lakers after forming a devastating partnership with Kobe Bryant, and added a fourth in 2006 with the Miami Heat.
With 28,596 points, O’Neal is fifth on the all-time NBA scoring list and is second only to Michael Jordan on the all-time list of NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Awards.
He began his career in 1992 when the Orlando Magic picked him first in the NBA Draft and quickly won rookie of the year honors.
He took the NBA scoring title in 1995 as he led the Magic to the NBA finals in 1995, but they were beaten by Houston. He won the accolade again in 2000, when the Lakers won the finals.
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