'Jerry West came in and said 'Hey big fella, they don't appreciate you down there'' - Penny Hardaway reveals why Shaq left the Magic for the Lakers

Back in 1996, NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal made the biggest decision of his career which was to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency. That catapulted one of the greatest dynasties of all time but also ruined what could've been a legendary era for the Orlando Magic. Prior to O'Neal teaming up with Kobe Byrant, he had Penny Hardaway, who felt that "The Diesel's" departure from Orlando was triggered by the local media.

"Articles that were out on the papers bro, we had young fans who didn't know any better. We had immature beat writers who were kind of bragging on Shaq because he couldn't make free throws. They were like 'We don't think Shaq deserves the money that he saying he deserves because he can't make free throws in the clutch like why would you pay someone that much money.' I was like are ya'll kidding me, ya'll gotta chill and that pissed Shaq off," Hardaway said in his latest appearance on the "Knuckleheads Podcast."

How Orlando messed up

Hardaway's revelation about how the Orlando media felt about O'Neal adds up to a big man's story regarding his departure. The bottom line is that the four-time champion wanted max money, but the Magic didn't believe in him enough, hence the lowball offer. The 15-time All-Star also didn't appreciate the fact that he was doubted not only by the Magic media but also by the residents of the city.

Remember, during free agency in 1996, the Magic put up a poll asking Orlando residents whether or not their franchise player was worth $150 million. According to NBA insider Jackie McMullan, 91% of the 5,000 plus respondents said no, and the results were posted on a billboard that even Shaq's mom could see from her office. That was a big slap on the face for a superstar who played a big role in leading his team to the NBA Finals as well as the conference finals.

"So if he wasn't going anywhere at that point, the Lakers and Jerry West came in and were like 'Hey Big fella, they don't appreciate you down there. Come on here in L.A. and let us show you what it's like.' Orlando is a beautiful city, but when we go to the City of Angels, bro, and they start throwing out movie contracts and endorsements, and you play for the Lakers, line sinker, man, they got them," the retired guard added.

How Penny found out

In the same episode, Hardaway also revealed that he found out that O'Neal was no longer going to be his teammate the hard way as it was when he was doing media during his time with the USA men's basketball team in 1996. The four-time All-Star guard hated that his co-star didn't give him a heads up and only told him about the heartbreaking news face-to-face the day after reporters asked him about it in Atlanta.

When "The Diesel" was asked if he ever regretted leaving Hardaway, the Hall of Famer confessed that he didn't, as he had no second thoughts about taking a pay cut to remain where he was not wanted.

"When everybody was talking about a $100 million, I want to be the first $100 million guy…. Ayye my mom needed a new house even though she didn't, that's all I'm thinking. Even though I'm always thinking about what me and Penny could have done, it's not a decision I regret. Because when it comes to family and it comes to making decisions, I make the decision as a leader, as a general, and if it happens to be the wrong decision, that's something I can live with," O'Neal once said in his appearance on "The Draymond Green show."

It's unfortunate that money was the biggest reason that hindered the Magic from having what could've been one of the greatest one-two punches in NBA history.