One of the greatest Lakers of all time is calling it a career. The man spent eight of his 19 seasons with the Lakers. While in Los Angeles he was first team All-NBA six times, league MVP once and Finals MVP three times. His decision to leave Orlando for the Lakers in the summer of 1996 jump-started the revitalization of the franchise in the post-Magic Johnson era. He gave us more than a few headaches - what with his at times subpar conditioning, his cold war with Kobe Bryant, his regrettable movie and rap "careers" and the extravagant salary demands that ultimately led to his trade to Miami in 2004. But make no mistake, the enjoyment he brought Laker fans far, far outweighed his imperfections, annoying as they often were. There should be no doubt but that his jersey will hang in Staples Center sometime soon.
Consider this your Shaq retirement open thread.