2002 Shaq O'Neal Los Angeles Lakers World Championship 14K Gold and Diamond Ring (Made For Friend)

The 2002 season proved to be the pinnacle of the Shaq/Kobe Lakers' era, as they swept the Nets in the NBA Finals. In doing so, the Lakers became only the third NBA franchise, joining the 1960s Boston Celtics and 1990s Chicago Bulls to win three straight championships. O'Neal, who averaged 36.3 points and 12.3 rebounds in the Finals, was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player of the Finals for the third consecutive time, joining Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson as the only players with three. Just two years later, Shaq would be off to Miami and Kobe looking for a new partner. This 14 kt gold and diamond ring is one of a small group of NBA Championship "Pyramid Design" rings Shaq O'Neal had made by Balfour for family and friends. The face features a purple gemstone triangle surrounded by the words "back-back-back" to commemorate the Los Angeles Lakers NBA "three-peat" . Three other triangular diamonds are also set against a background of smaller diamonds, a total of 2.45 carats. "Lakers World Champions" is embossed; the right side is embossed with the Lakers logo, "Slam Dunk,"  "2002" and the image of a microphone with the words "Chick" - a salute to long time Laker play-by-play man Chick Hearn who passed away after the season. The left side is embossed with "O'Neal" and both the season "58-24" and playoff 15-4" records on each side of the NBA logo, "14K" stamped on the inside. The ring is identical to Shaq"s aside from finger size. Ring size is 10 1/4. Includes original 7" by 5" by 3 1/4" wood presentation box. The ring is in excellent overall condition with minor wear from use. Also included is a 2002 letter from Howard Kahn of Henry Kay Jewelers, appraising the ring at $9450.