Sep 12, 2008 - 12:45 AM
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The four-time champion and 14-time All-Star told Orlando's News 13 television that he will retire after his current contract with the Phoenix Suns expires following the 2010 season.
"My basketball career will be over in 735 days," O'Neal told the television station. "And being an educated man, I've always had things to fall back on. So one of my options is law enforcement."
The 36-year-old has won three NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Miami Heat, and was named the finals MVP three times.
Although hampered by hip injuries last season, O'Neal still managed to average 13.6 points and 9.1 rebounds over his 61 games with the Heat and Suns.
O'Neal was the No. 1 overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 1992 draft after a sterling college career at Louisiana State. After averaging 23.4 points and 13.9 rebounds in 81 games, he was named the 1992-93 Rookie of the Year.
Following the 1995-96 season, O'Neal left the Magic to join the Lakers after being enticed by a seven-year, $122 million contract and led Los Angeles to titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
On July 14, 2004, O'Neal was traded to the Heat for Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and a future first-round draft choice. Though falling in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference finals to the eventual champion Detroit Pistons in his debut season in Miami, O'Neal and the Heat won the title the following year.
The 7-foot center was dealt to the Suns in the middle of the 2007-08 season for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, but Phoenix lost to the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
O'Neal holds career averages of 25.2 points and 11.5 rebounds over 1,042 games.
