Many NBA players enter the league hoping to play for their favorite team for their entire careers. This dream was shared by four-time champion Shaquille O’Neal at the start of his journey. However, Shaq soon learned the harsh reality of loyalty in the NBA. In his 2011 memoir, Shaq Uncut, he discussed the lack of loyalty in the league, reflecting on the trades of Patrick Ewing, Dominique Wilkins, and even Michael Jordan. O’Neal believed that players who give their all to a franchise should not be traded, a sentiment that influenced his decision to leave the Orlando Magic.
