Shaquille O’Neal sparks concern with hospital photo
The truth about Shaquille O’Neal’s viral hospital photo has been revealed after he dropped an unexplained bomb on fans.
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Shaquille O’Neal caused concern among fans when the he shared a photo of himself on Monday (AEDT).
The New York Post on Monday confirmed the NBA legend underwent a hip replacement procedure over the weekend.
O’Neal, who did not share details about his apparent hospital stay, sent a message to his fellow ‘NBA on TNT’ co-hosts, Ernie Johnson and Candace Parker.
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“I’m always watching @TurnerSportsEJ and @Candace_Parker miss y’all,” O’Neal wrote.
Parker — who signed with the Las Vegas Aces in February — reposted the photo and wrote: “Love ya big Fella.”
Johnson has not responded publicly.
Ken Fang, an editor for Awful Announcing, said on Twitter that Johnson had mentioned during Turner’s March Madness coverage that O’Neal’s surgery involved his hip.
Former NBA centre, Roy Hibbert asked, “U good big man?”
Some Twitter users followed suit with questions about O’Neal’s health, while many others shared well wishes and supportive messages.
The viral photo has over nine million views and 43,000 likes.
It’s unclear when O’Neal is expected to return to TV.
Earlier this month, O’Neal discussed the surgery on his podcast, and said he was hopeful to return to the gym and his diet next month.
“I’ll be back April 16, and I’m going in,” O’Neal said on “The Big Podcast with Shaq.”
“I’m going to try and lose 30 pounds and I’m going to try and get an eight-pack. Right now I got a little five-pack.”
The NBA legend explained that he’s going to follow a “51 diet,” which he said is “five BS meals and one meal.”
O’Neal’s five meals include: a shake for breakfast; a fruit plate; four chicken breasts with ketchup; a salad; and a shake.
“I’m going to do that for 90 days,” O’Neal said. “I’m about to be shredded.”
His lifestyle changes have made a connection with fans and his photos he has shared from his gym workouts have been viewed millions of times.
O’Neal has been open about his weight loss journey, and revealed last October that he was down 36 pounds.
“I was 401 pounds. Now I’m 365,” O’Neal said during an appearance on Logan Paul’s “Impaulsive” podcast. “I’m trying to take it back to 345.
“I want to have muscles everywhere, and I want to do an underwear ad with my sons [for] Fruit of the Loom, baby.”
O’Neal surgery comes as TNT’s NBA coverage is reduced during March Madness.
O’Neal said he began taking his health more seriously after a doctor’s visit that discovered he had sleep apnea.
— This story originally appeared on nypost.com and has been republished with permission
Originally published as Shaquille O’Neal sparks concern with hospital photo
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