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Big Business Lessons From the Big Diesel
Table of Contents
Many sports fans remember Shaquille O’Neal as the most dominant NBA player to ever step on the court. The Hall of Famer and four-time NBA Champion takes the spotlight in HBO’s Shaq, a four-part documentary that covers his early life, his NBA rise, and his life beyond basketball as a spokesperson and entrepreneur. Here are some top takeaways.
If you don’t pay for top talent, someone else will
When it was time for the Orlando Magic to offer Shaq a new contract, they came at him with a lackluster offer (despite having the resources to pay more). He then left Orlando for a team that would pay in full for his talents: the Los Angeles Lakers, whose investment was rewarded with back-to-back-to-back NBA Championships, a regular season MVP, and three NBA Finals MVPs.
Every team needs a leader
Even with the dominance of Shaq (and a budding talent in Kobe Bryant), the Lakers couldn’t win a title at first — until they signed head coach Phil Jackson, who’d just won six for the Chicago Bulls. Jackson told Shaq that if he listened, he’d win a championship, league MVP, and Finals MVP, all of which happened in Jackson’s first year with the team. Skill needs guidance.
Be willing to pivot eventually
During the last stretch of his NBA career, Shaq went through a number of injuries and rough patches that led to his historic retirement. But he was prepared. Shaq had built a marketable brand and invested in a number of industries, allowing him to change directions easily. Like Shaq, your next venture might be a season away.
This article first appeared in the b. Newsletter. Subscribe now!