Jermaine O'Neal

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

O'Neal was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and raised by his mother, Angela Ocean, along with his older brother Clifford. He found his love for athletics at a young age, favoring basketball over American football. His basketball heroes were Hakeem Olajuwon and Bill Russell. In high school, O'Neal played for Eau Claire High School, where he grew five inches over a year and a half and became a defensive powerhouse. He averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 blocks per game as a junior, helping Eau Claire capture its third straight 3A state title in 1995. In his senior season, he averaged 22.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 5.2 blocks per game, earning First Team All-State, South Carolina's Player of the Year, and Mr. Basketball. He was named to USA Today's All-USA Basketball Team and played in the McDonald's All-American Game. O'Neal declared for the 1996 NBA draft straight out of high school.

In Their Own Story

The trade that sent O'Neal to Indiana was greeted with surprise by fans. The Pacers had just come off an appearance in the 2000 NBA Finals, and the trade involved losing a quality player for an unproven commodity in O'Neal. The Pacers roster also saw the departures of Mark Jackson and Rik Smits. But O'Neal quickly proved his worth, becoming the anchor of the franchise and leading them to six playoff appearances in eight seasons.

Reader's Guide

O'Neal's professional career began with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he struggled to break into the first team. He was traded to the Indiana Pacers in 2000. In eight seasons with the Pacers, he was a six-time NBA All-Star, three-time All-NBA selection, and the 2001–02 NBA Most Improved Player. He helped the Pacers reach the playoffs six times, including the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2003–04 season. O'Neal was traded to the Toronto Raptors before the 2008–09 season and later played for the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and Phoenix Suns. His final NBA season was 2013–14 with the Golden State Warriors.

Did You Know?

• O'Neal was the youngest player to ever play an NBA game at the time of his debut, at 18 years, one month, and 22 days.
• He was selected 17th overall in the 1996 NBA draft at just 17 years old.
• O'Neal was voted the NBA Most Improved Player in the 2001–02 season.
• He helped the Indiana Pacers reach the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2003–04 season.