NBL news: Why hoops legend Shaquille O‘Neal would consider a slice in the booming Australian league
After a whirlwind tour of Australia, basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal reveals he would consider investing in the NBL. Plus, Shaq reflects on his career and giving back to those in need.
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Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal has been everywhere this past fortnight and get used to it – the NBA Hall of Famer says he’d consider a slice of the Aussie NBL action.
O’Neal already invests in global companies like Google, Apple and General Electric - and wouldn’t rule out adding the booming Australian league to his extensive list of investments.
The NBL has an impressive collection of former and current NBA stars investing in the league, including John Wall, Khris Middleton, Zach Randolph and Victor Oladipo.
Asked if investing in the Australian league is something he would contemplate, O’Neal said: “I would – anything is possible.
“I always throw a lot of things in the air and when you throw them in the air, you have options.”
O’Neal also refused to rule out relocating to Australia one day, which would open the door for an in-person involvement with a team or the league.
“In two years, who knows where I’ll be,” he said.
“If I had to move to another country, this country would be it.
“Right here on the water – I would be right down here.”
O’Neal’s admiration for Australian basketball is equally strong.
The four-time NBA champion has fond memories of playing against the Boomers in a pre-Olympic game in Utah in 1996.
O’Neal didn’t know much about Aussie hoops at the time, so his respect wasn’t high, but this soon changed when he faced a determined Shane Heal.
‘Shaq’ thought he could scare Heal with his size, but the cheeky guard was having none of it as he went on to top all scorers with 28 points – including hitting 8 of 12 three pointers.
â›½ï¸ x 🔨 https://t.co/s1GEhS8ekY
— The NBL (@NBL) August 25, 2022
“Usually when guys get tough like Shane did, I can intimidate them vocally,” said O’Neal, who was in Sydney as a PointsBet representative.
“Like hey, ‘you bring your arse in here one more time and I’m going to break your nose.’
“But Shane was just like, ‘whatever, mate’ and just kept coming back.
“I was like, ‘my god, who is this guy?.’
“I remember that game distinctively because Shane’s name wasn’t on the scouting report.
“Gaze, Longley, and this little guy, who didn’t even look like he belonged out there, was just lighting it up.
“Then I found out that they call Shane the ‘hammer’ because he is tough.
“That just showed me that you guys are tough and not soft.
“Shane will always have a spot in my heart and Australia will always have a special place in my heart.”
OVERCOMING HIS DOUBTS
O’Neal concedes the expectations of others nearly suffocated him during his decorated NBA career.
His own expectations threatened to crush him, but he battled on because of his stepfather’s military background.
“I had no choice, but to fight,” says O’Neal, who would be forced to sit in a corner and read a dictionary if he ever mucked up as a kid.
“When you grow up with a drill sergeant, quitting is not an option.
“Complaining is not an option. Suck it up is the only option.
“You have to persevere.
“There is a mental health thing going on in Australia, and mental health is real, but I can’t determine if mental health and mental fortitude is the same thing.
“It’s why I don’t like to comment on the mental part, but for me, you’ve got to suck it up.”
O’Neal wants his story of determination and resilience to resonate, and in turn inspire.
He remembers feeling frustrated during his career when the critics questioned his game or off-court actions.
O’Neal never got too low, though, thanks to a frank message from his stepfather.
“Dad used to say, ‘nobody cares,’ and the reason they don’t care is because before you even stepped on the court, you made a $100 million dollars, buddy,” he recalls.
“So, nobody cares if you can’t make a free-throw, and nobody cares if you’re sad.
“You’ve got hardworking people who live cheque to cheque and if they want to be sports fans, they have to come up with the money to buy tickets.
“You need to be worried about them. Worry about them before you worry about yourself.
“So, when I took that statement to heart, I was like: ‘If they don’t care, I don’t care’.”
Once O’Neal stopped worrying about the external noise, he says his career went to the next level.
“Because, again, when you make 100 million dollars, people expect you to do something at a high level,” he said.
“You just have to play at a high level. If you can’t get to the high level, get to the high level.
“Don’t say I get there and then complain and whinge about it.”
GIVING WITHOUT PRAISE
O’Neal regularly does deeds for others without the public knowing.
It’s a trait instilled in him via his stepdad, who once gave the family’s cheeseburgers to a homeless man before telling the kids: “If you ever make it big, make sure you help those in need.”
Welcome back, @SHAQhttps://t.co/bbfr4AIKUGpic.twitter.com/5YFs1UmUOk
— The NBL (@NBL) August 23, 2022
It’s a moment etched in O’Neal’s mind and as a permanent reminder to be selfless, generous and think of others.
Like the day he was scrolling his Instagram and he noticed the Collins family, who had 10 “beautiful” children.
“So, I contacted them, and I went and hung out with them because I love kids,” he said.
“They pulled up in an old school van that wasn’t up to part, so what do I do?
“I got them a new van because I’m uncle Shaq.
“I do stuff like that. They never asked me for anything, but I just love this family.
“It was just something nice to do. It wasn’t planned.
“Now the kids know me as Uncle Shaq and every time I go to Texas we hang out.
“The father also turned up in a regular truck, so I bought him a truck on the same day.”
The big man has still got it ðŸ€ â˜„ï¸ pic.twitter.com/SJHcdcMQj1
— PointsBet AU (@PointsBet_AU) September 1, 2022
O’Neal has also purchased random people houses, paid for scholarships for four years and helped kids get jobs.
The big man’s motivation?
“Just because I’ve been a successful basketballer and have money, doesn’t mean I’m better,” he said.
“We’re equal. I also realise that in this real life that we live in, all this is luck.
“If you disrespect the luck, like many have, it will be gone.
“A lot of people have nice runs, and I’m this and that, but when the luck gods get tired of you disrespecting the luck and they take it away and you can never get it back.”
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