Shaquille O'Neal reveals the secret deal that added $60 million to his earnings
The NBA legend shared how Jerry West convinced him to join the Lakers in 1996: "I set up movie deals for you." And also: the promise about Kobe that turned out to be a prophecy.
Almost 30 years after signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O'Neal revealed how Jerry West managed to convince him to leave Orlando in the summer of 1996, despite a $30 million gap between his demand and the offer he received. The center, who became the highest-paid player in the NBA at the time, said that West bridged the gap through movie deals he arranged for him.
"Jerry West met me at the hotel and said, 'I have good news and bad news'. I asked, 'What's the bad news?', and he said, 'I can't get you to 150 million, but I can get you 120 million, and I have some movie deals I closed for you that will bring you to about 180 million'. I told him, 'Let me see the contract'."
For O'Neal, the numbers were almost unfathomable. In his first four seasons in Orlando, he earned a total of about $17.4 million, while the Lakers offered him $120 million for seven years, with an option after three years. "He showed me the contract, and I had never seen so many zeros in my life," he said.
The move came after Alonzo Mourning, who was selected in the same draft as Shaquille in 1992, received a $105 million offer from Miami. Mourning's contract reinforced O'Neal's feeling that he too deserved a massive deal.
West also kept the other part of the promise. Shaquille did indeed receive lead roles in the movies "Kazaam" and "Steel" as part of the business opportunities that opened up for him in Los Angeles.
But that was not the only thing West promised him at that time.
"While I'm signing, he puts a hand on my shoulder and says, 'I'm going to tell you something. I just got this kid. In two or three years, you and him are going to win a lot of championships'. I said to myself, 'Yeah, okay', because I just wanted to sign. He was talking about Kobe."
The prediction turned out to be accurate: Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant became one of the greatest duos in NBA history and led the Lakers to three consecutive championships between 2000 and 2002.
