""The Big Shamrock" has officially transitioned into the "The Big AARP."

After 19 seasons, iconic NBA big man Shaquille O'Neal is retiring from the NBA.

The 39-year-old legend made it official yesterday during a press conference in his home west of downtown Orlando, Fla.

With his mother, Lucille, and father, Sgt. Philip Harrison, sitting in the front row and his college coach, Dale Brown of LSU, seated next to him on stage, O'Neal waxed poetic about an NBA career that is guaranteed to bring a Hall of Fame induction.

"I never thought this day would come," O'Neal said upon taking his seat on stage. "Father Time has finally caught up to Shaquille O'Neal.

O'Neal played in just 37 games during his final and only season with the Celtics [team stats] due to a littany of injuries including his currently damaged Achilles tendon. His deteriorating health also limited him to the extent that he played in 70 games only once since the 2004-05 season.

He said he announced his retirement now so that general manager Danny Ainge and the Celtics could re-load on bigs."