Yes it is a slow summer for Raptors news so I thought I would take the time to introduce the newest name to the club for those who may not follow hoops as close as I do. I know for a fact my mum will be asking me very soon about the new guy and now I can just send her a link.

Praying for more interesting news….

Full name: Jermaine L. O’Neal

O’Neal declared his eligibility for the 1996 NBA Draft straight out of high school and was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 17th pick of the first round.

In Portland, O’Neal spent most of his time coming off the bench and averaged 3.75 points per game during his four years with the Trail Blazers.

During the 2000 off-season, O’Neal was traded to the Indiana Pacers along with Joe Kleine in exchange for Dale Davis. O’Neal was named a starter, averaging 12.9 points in his first season.

In the 2001–02 season, O’Neal averaged 19.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game on the way to winning the NBA Most Improved Player Award.

In the 2002–03 season, O’Neal became one of only three NBA players to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.

By the 2003–04 season, O’Neal was averaging 20.1 points and ten rebounds per game, leading the Pacers to the best record in the NBA, earning an All-NBA Second Team selection and placing third in MVP balloting.

Then what most non-basketball fans remember and most likely remember JON from.

On November 19, 2004, O’Neal became involved in a massive brawl at the end of a game against Detroit, and was filmed striking a Pistons fan on the court. As a result, O’Neal was suspended indefinitely by Commissioner David Stern while the NBA investigated the incident. O’Neal received a 25-game suspension for his part in the brawl. However, thanks to the urging of an arbitrator just before Christmas, Jermaine won a ten-game reduction in his sentence. He ended up playing in only 44 games.

It has all gone kind of downhill since and that is why Raptors fans are a little skeptical. At least I am.

O’Neal fought injuries during the 2005–06 season, and played in only 51 games. O’Neal missed 13 more games in the 2006–07 season as the Pacers missed the playoffs altogether.

Other stuff

O’Neal is known for his outspokenness on race in the NBA. After the NBA enacted its controversial age-limit to enter the NBA Draft, O’Neal told reporters that he felt that race was a factor on why the NBA has a different standard than other professional sports leagues.

His career highlights

  • 6-time NBA All-Star: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
  • 3-time All-NBA:
  • Second Team: 2004
  • Third Team: 2002, 2003
  • NBA Most Improved Player Award: 2002
  • NBA Magic Johnson Award: 2004
  • NBA regular-season leader, blocks: 2001 (228)

Holds Indiana Pacers franchise records for

  • Most blocks, game: 10 (January 22, 2003 vs. the Toronto Raptors)
  • Most blocks, season: 228 (2000–01)
  • Most rebounds, game, playoffs: 22 (Game 5, 2003 Eastern Conference First Round)
  • Highest rebounding average, playoff series: 17.5 (2003 Eastern Conference First Round)
  • Most free throws attempted, game: 25 (January 4, 2005 vs. the Milwaukee Bucks)
  • Soon to own a lot of Raptors single season rebound and blocks records (hoping!!)

From the maybe you did not know files

  • Jermaine played football as a teenager. He was a quarterback on the Eau Claire High School team through his junior year. Can you picture him today as a QB?? Wow.
  • In the 2000–01 season, Jermaine became the first Pacer in franchise history to reject more than 200 shots in a season.
  • Jermaine’s hobbies include reading, bowling, video games and billiards.
  • On off-days, Jermaine likes to take his daughter, Asjia, bowling. Sadly there are not that many lanes in the downtown core of Toronto.
  • Has an older brother named Clifford.
  • Jermaine owns a recording studio named Bogota Entertainment, located in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Jermaine has a really small head compared to his body, okay I added that one.

It says this is the official website for Jermaine but it is hard to say if he has anything to do with it.

Finally a fan video from YouTube.

How will I think it will work out? Well I of course am hoping for the pre-brawl O’Neil to return without the nagging injuries. If that happens the Raptors are going to be beefy up front. I am going to at least wait until the season before getting all negative on the other way the deal could go.

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