“I never did that before!” $400 million man Shaquille O’Neal spoke to neighbors for FIRST TIME after retiring from basketball

Shaquille O'Neal formed a big 3 alongside Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem.

“I never did that before!” $400 million man Shaquille O’Neal spoke to neighbors for FIRST TIME after retiring from basketball

Udonis Haslem alongside former teammates Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal. (Image via AUCH)

LA Lakers icon Shaquille O’Neal had former teammate and captain Udonis Haslem on a recent episode of The Big Podcast. The two players teamed up from 2004 to 2008 at the Miami Heat and won a championship in 2006. 

Shaq arrived at the Heat at the age of 32, and alongside the likes of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, played an integral role for three seasons before consistent injuries limited his game time, and subsequently his career. After three short stints at the Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, and the Boston Celtics, O’Neal finally retired at the age of 38. He had been a role player for many years by this time, but revealed on the podcast that he wanted to play further.

As a matter of fact, Shaq thought that he was going to continue playing before a lack of a contract forced his hand:

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I did something I never did before. I went outside and started talking to neighbors. No seriously, coz I had this surgery right, and I thought I was coming back, then I was like, ‘I ain’t got no f***ing contract. I ain’t even going anywhere.
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This led to O’Neal doing something he had never done before. It was, talking to his neighbours. The ever-busy NBA star was no longer an NBA star, and had more time than he liked, after retirement:

So I was just like go outside and just looking for people to talk to. Alex hey what’s up! Steve! Come over. I was like super bored and I was about to take a year off when I got a call from TNT but I don’t know what I would have did if I didn’t get that call from TNT.

The Lakers icon was therefore delighted with the call from TNT, a network that he is still a part of. One can expect him to have never had the time to do that before, considering how tolling an NBA season, and the other commitments that Shaq had could prove to be.

Shaquille O’Neal has only continued his legacy at TNT

Shaquille O’Neal is today one of the most wholesome personalities related to the NBA. After an illustrious career that saw him win 3 back-to-back Finals MVPs, Shaq retired as a 4-time NBA champion.

Since then, a range of smart investments has meant that he has been able to achieve literally everything that he has dreamed of. O’Neal has a successful acting career, a DJing career, and is one of the most entertaining analysts to watch on TV.

Shaquille O’Neal has been a permanent feature on TNT since retirement. (Image via Philadelphia Inquirer)

Apart from that, he is also easily the biggest philanthropist associated with the sport, by a comprehensive margin. Shaq is heavily involved with charitable initiatives, has a couple of trusts of his own, and regularly hosts programs aimed at helping those in need, especially children.

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