The Rice University Neologisms Database

In basketball, intentionally fouling Shaquille O'Neal to send a bad free throw shooter to the line as part of a team's strategy. This term applies to using the tactic of intentionally fouling the opposing team in basketball in order to stop the clock and get the ball back after they shoot free throws when your team is trailing. This term only applies to fouling Shaquille O'Neal who is notorious for his horrible free throw shooting. Derived from combining hack (to foul) and Shaq (short for Shaquille. It most likely was used because as a sports commentator, in order to keep the audience listening to what you are saying, you have to find new and creative ways of describing what is going on. Hack-a-Shaq not only rhymes but accurately describes the action on the court