This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2023
The 1997-98 season was another dominant one for Shaquille O'Neal. The 7' 1", 350-lb. center averaged 28.3 points and 11.4 rebounds per game while leading the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals, a step closer to the beginning of the franchise's Three-Peat that would initiate two seasons later. Shaq’s Lakers tenure represented the zenith of his basketball career, which culminated in a 2016 first-ballot election into the Naismith Hall of Fame.
Presented here is one of Shaq's gigantic purple road gamers from that 1997-98 campaign. On the front left tail is the Nike manufacturer’s tag flanked by NBA Authentics and Lakers team labels, with size 56 and a "LENGTH +6 MADE IN USA" flag tag in the middle. (The letters "PR" are handwritten in black pen next to the size.) They only made jerseys this huge for Diesel! Inside the lower left seam are two tags with “1997-98” and washing instructions. On the top left chest is the official “NBA” embroidered logo patch. Across the front is "LAKERS" and on the back is “O’NEAL” both done in gold on white tackle twill. The Diesel’s No. "34” appears front and back in the same format. Shaq has signed the back ‘3’ in 8-9/10 black marker.
MEARS has authenticated the jersey and given it a perfect A10 grade for its strong level of usage and provenance. This jersey was procured directly from Shaq by the young daughter of a longtime Lakers/Forum operations employee. Shaq signed the jersey in her presence after a game and gave it to her. She has decided that now is the time to sell it. Includes full LOA from PSA/DNA and a JSA sticker cert. for Shaq’s signature.