Shaquille O'Neal in the Hall of Fame: 5 reasons there will never be another Shaq

#3 The “Rim reaper”

There goes that rim

"I jam it, I slam it, I make sure it's broke." Shaq rapped.

Rookies come into the league looking to make a big splash. Some make it to the all-star game or win Rookie of the Year award and feel that they've made it. Shaq did both of those things, but he did more than make a splash.

Why splash like a peaceful puddle sinking in a pond when you can rain down holy flames on the basket and shatter the only solid structure on the court? In his rookie season itself, Shaq tore down two rims with no regard for human life, or his own.

In the 1992-93 NBA season, Shaq tore down the rim against the New Jersey Nets and the Phoenix Suns giving the audience more than their money's worth. To all the basket stanchions in support group therapy after being battered by Kevin Garnett, they ought to say a prayer of thanks to Shaquille O'Neal. It was his battering which made led to stronger stanchions.

After Shaq's rookie season, the NBA added additional steel brace strength and stability of the backboard to guard against the hoop from falling down like the London Bridge. If a man can do that to the basket when he's applying some level of finesse to guide the ball in, what would he do to the puny humans who would attempt to get in his way to the rim when he's bulldozing down the paint?