Jermaine O'Neal

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Lore & Background

O'Neal was unable to break into the first team in Portland and was traded to the Indiana Pacers in 2000. In his eight seasons with the team, he was voted an NBA All-Star six times, made the All-NBA teams three times, and was voted the NBA Most Improved Player in the 2001–02 season. O'Neal also helped Indiana reach the NBA 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 began, and later played for the Miami Heat, the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns. O'Neal's final NBA season was the 2013–14 season, which he spent with the Golden State Warriors.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Jermaine O'Neal's rise is rooted in his high school days at Eau Claire High School, where he grew five inches in a year and a half to become a defensive powerhouse. Coach George Glymph built the team's defense around him, leading Eau Claire to its third straight 3A state title in 1995 with O'Neal averaging 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 blocks per game. Despite facing off-court pressure regarding a rape investigation that was never prosecuted, he declared for the draft after watching Kevin Garnett's successful transition from high school to the NBA. In Portland, his debut came against the Denver Nuggets in December at 18 years, one month, and 22 days old. He later became the youngest player at 18 years, three months, and eleven days to score 20 points in a game against the Seattle SuperSonics on January 22, 1997.

Reader's Guide

O'Neal was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers as the 17th pick in the 1996 NBA draft. After missing the first 17 games with a bone contusion in his knee, O'Neal made his debut against the Denver Nuggets in December. At 18 years, one month and 22 days, he became the youngest player to play in an NBA game (a mark that was later eclipsed by Andrew Bynum). O'Neal also became the youngest player at 18 years, three months and eleven days to score 20 points in a game on January 22, 1997, against the Seattle SuperSonics. He struggled for minutes in Portland and was traded to Indiana in 2000.

Did You Know?

• O'Neal was the youngest player to ever play an NBA game at the time of his debut, but that record was later broken by Andrew Bynum.
• He was traded from Portland to Indiana in 2000, not before the 2008–09 season.
• O'Neal played eight seasons with the Indiana Pacers, making six All-Star appearances.