Editing Shaquille O'Neal (section)

====MVP and championship seasons (1999–2002)====
[[File:Shaq1 2000finals3.tif|thumb|O'Neal with the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] during Game 5 of the [[2000 NBA Finals]]]]
In 1999, prior to the 1999–2000 season, the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] hired [[Phil Jackson]] as head coach, and the team's fortunes soon changed. Jackson immediately challenged O'Neal, telling him "the [NBA's] MVP trophy should be named after him when he retired."<ref>{{cite news |last=Kreigel |first=Mark |title=Jackson shares thoughts on final season |date=May 18, 2011 |work=FoxSports.com |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Phil-Jackson-shares-candid-thoughts-on-final-season-as-Los-Angeles-Lakers-coach-051811 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111012329/http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Phil-Jackson-shares-candid-thoughts-on-final-season-as-Los-Angeles-Lakers-coach-051811 |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In a November 10, 1999, game against the [[Houston Rockets]], O'Neal and [[Charles Barkley]] were ejected. After O'Neal blocked a layup by Barkley, O'Neal shoved Barkley, who then threw the ball at O'Neal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shaq, Barkley scuffle, are ejected|url=https://assets.espn.go.com/nba/news/1999/1110/163531.html|agency=Associated Press|access-date=January 8, 2012|date=November 11, 1999|archive-date=February 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202011853/http://assets.espn.go.com/nba/news/1999/1110/163531.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 6, 2000, O'Neal's 28th birthday, he scored a career-high 61 points to go along with 23 rebounds and 3 assists in a 123–103 win over the [[Los Angeles Clippers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200003060LAC.html|title=Los Angeles Lakers at Los Angeles Clippers Box Score, March 6, 2000|publisher=Basketball-Reference|access-date=January 27, 2020|archive-date=January 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127101444/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200003060LAC.html|url-status=live}}</ref> O'Neal's 61-point game was the last game in NBA history that a player [[List of NBA single-game scoring leaders|scored 60 or more points]] without hitting a 3-pointer until [[Giannis Antetokounmpo]] scored 64 points against the Indiana Pacers on December 13, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask?q=nba+players+with+60%2B+points+in+a+game+with+%3D0+3pm|title=NBA Players with 60% 2b Points in a Game With%3d0 3pm|access-date=November 25, 2021|archive-date=November 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125031841/https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask?q=nba+players+with+60%2B+points+in+a+game+with+%3D0+3pm|url-status=live}}</ref>

O'Neal was also voted the [[1999–2000 NBA season|1999–2000 regular season]] [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]], one vote short of becoming the first unanimous MVP in NBA history. [[Fred Hickman]], then of [[CNN]], instead chose [[Allen Iverson]], then of the [[Philadelphia 76ers]], who went on to win MVP the next season. O'Neal also won the scoring title while finishing second in rebounds and third in blocked shots. Jackson's influence resulted in a newfound commitment by O'Neal to defense, resulting in his first [[NBA All-Defensive Team|All-Defensive Team]] selection (second-team) in 2000.<ref>{{cite news| title= Phil Jackson's tenure produced the most success and fun we've ever seen| work= Los Angeles Times| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110517052801/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/11/sports/la-sp-heisler-lakers-20110512| first= Mark| last= Heisler| url= https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2011-may-11-la-sp-heisler-lakers-20110512-story.html| date= May 11, 2011| url-status=live| archive-date= May 17, 2011| access-date= June 17, 2015}}</ref>

In the [[2001 NBA Finals]] against the 76ers, O'Neal fouled out in Game 3 backing over [[Dikembe Mutombo]], the 2000–2001 [[NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award|Defensive Player of the Year]]. "I didn't think the best defensive player in the game would be [[flop (basketball)|flopping]] like that. It's a shame that the referees buy into that", O'Neal said. "I wish he'd stand up and play me like a man instead of flopping and crying every time I back him down.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://amarillo.com/stories/2001/06/11/spo_nbafinals.shtml |title=Lakers hold off Sixers, 96–91 |quote=The 76ers trailed from the second quarter on and missed their one and only chance to tie the game when Allen Iverson could make only one of two free throws with 2:06 left – 15 seconds after O'Neal drew his sixth foul for backing over Dikembe Mutombo. |date=June 11, 2001 |newspaper= Amarillo Globe-News |agency= Associated Press |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110622024447/http://amarillo.com/stories/2001/06/11/spo_nbafinals.shtml |archive-date= June 22, 2011 |access-date=November 9, 2010 }}</ref>

A month before the {{NBA Year|2001|app=season's}} training camp, O'Neal had corrective surgery for a claw toe deformity in the smallest toe of his left foot.<ref name=brown/> He opted against a more involved surgery to return quicker.<ref>[[#oneal2011|O'Neal, MacMullan 2011]], p. 153.</ref> He was ready for the start of the 2001–02 regular season, but the toe frequently bothered him.<ref name=brown>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Tim |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-aug-14-sp-shaq14-story.html |title=O'Neal Surgery Is Likely |quote=A month before last training camp he had surgery to correct a claw toe deformity in the smallest toe of his left foot. |date=August 14, 2002 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209005657/http://articles.latimes.com/print/2002/aug/14/sports/sp-shaq14 |archive-date=December 9, 2013 |access-date=November 17, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2002, he was involved in a spectacular on-court brawl in a game against the Chicago Bulls. He punched center [[Brad Miller (basketball)|Brad Miller]] after an intentional foul to prevent a basket, resulting in a melee with Miller, forward [[Charles Oakley]], and several other players.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2002/01/13/shaq_punches_ap/ |title=Shaq to be sacked |date=January 13, 2002 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=October 11, 2008 |archive-date=March 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312224102/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/news/2002/01/13/shaq_punches_ap/ }}</ref> O'Neal was suspended for three games without pay and fined $15,000.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E3D61238F935A25752C0A9649C8B63 |title=Sports of The Times; N.B.A. Needs To Hit Shaq Much Harder |first=Ira |last=Berkow |date=January 16, 2002 |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 18, 2017 |archive-date=October 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030232017/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/16/sports/sports-of-the-times-nba-needs-to-hit-shaq-much-harder.html |url-status=live }}</ref> For the season, O'Neal averaged 27.2 points and 10.7 rebounds, excellent statistics but below his career average; he was less of a defensive force during the season.<ref name = brown/>

Matched up against the [[Sacramento Kings]] in the [[2002 NBA Playoffs#Conference finals|2002 Western Conference finals]], O'Neal said, "There is only one way to beat us. It starts with c and ends with t." O'Neal meant "cheat" in reference to the alleged flopping of Kings' center [[Vlade Divac]]. O'Neal referred to Divac as "she", and said he would never exaggerate contact to draw a foul. "I'm a guy with no talent who has gotten this way with hard work."<ref>{{cite news 
 |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2002/06/03/center-stage-trading-blows-and-barbs-big-men-vlade-divac-and-shaquille-oneal-have-turned-the-western-finals-into-comic-opera
 |first=Jack 
 |last=McCallum 
 |author-link=Jack McCallum 
 |title=Trading blows and barbs, big men Vlade Divac and Shaquille O'Neal have turned the Western finals into comic opera 
 |quote=There was some head-scratching before it was divined that O'Neal meant "cheat" and not something either X-rated or far out, like "covenant" or "coronet". 
 |date=June 3, 2002 |magazine=Sports Illustrated 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020203051/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1025910/index.htm
 |archive-date=October 20, 2010 |access-date=November 9, 2010 |url-status=live
}}</ref> 
After the 2001–2002 season, O'Neal told friends that he did not want another season of limping and being in virtually constant pain from his big right toe.<ref>{{cite web |last=Plaschke |first=Bill |title=Shaq Becomes Center of Tension |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-aug-23-sp-plachke23-story.html |website= [[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=May 11, 2025}}</ref> His trademark mobility and explosion had been often absent. The corrective options ranged from [[reconstructive surgery]] on the toe to rehabilitation exercises with more shoe inserts and [[inflammation|anti-inflammation]] medication. O'Neal was already wary of the long-term damage his frequent consumption of these medications might have. He did not want to rush a decision with his career potentially at risk.<ref name=brown/>

Using Jackson's [[triangle offense]], O'Neal and Bryant enjoyed tremendous success, leading the Lakers to three consecutive titles (2000, 2001, and 2002).<ref>{{cite web |title=NBA Champions by Year: Complete list of NBA Finals winners |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/nba-champions-by-year-complete-list-of-nba-finals-winners |website=FOX Sports |access-date=May 5, 2024}}</ref> O'Neal was named [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|MVP of the NBA Finals]] all three times<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Staff |first1=SI |title=NBA Finals MVPs: The Complete List of Winners |url=https://www.si.com/nba/2022/06/16/nba-finals-mvp-photos-michael-jordan-magic-johnson-lebron-james#:~:text=Shaquille%20O'Neal%20(2000%2C%202001%2C%202002)&text=He%20never%20averaged%20less%20than,his%20three%20Finals%20MVP%20runs. |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=June 17, 2022 |access-date=May 5, 2024}}</ref> and had the highest scoring average for a center in NBA Finals history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindthebench.org/oneals/ |title=消費者金融を低金利で利用するには |access-date=June 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904125915/http://www.behindthebench.org/oneals/ |archive-date=September 4, 2015}}. Retrieved June 17, 2015.</ref>