Shaq owes his NBA career to his father.
Shaquille O’Neal had a hidden knack for football.
Shaquille O’Neal, the towering 7-foot-1-inch, 325-pound NBA legend, recently revealed that he could have been just as much of a force in the NFL as he was on the basketball court. During a conversation on comedian Kountry Wayne’s podcast, Shaq opened up about his early football aspirations, and it turns out the NBA wasn’t always his first love.
When Wayne asked O’Neal if he ever considered a career in football, Shaq confirmed that he had played tight end and seriously thought about pursuing the NFL. However, his dreams of gridiron glory took a turn after a pivotal moment with his father.
Shaq shared that one day his father came home and smacked him on the back of the head with a newspaper. The headline? A report on Jon Koncak, the Atlanta Hawks center who had just signed a $15 million deal over three years. That moment was a game-changer for Shaq, who realized that basketball might be the more lucrative path.
“I didn’t think I had enough for football, so I switched to basketball,”Shaq admitted, adding that he brought that same football toughness to the hardwood. And anyone who watched Shaq’s career highlights knows just how much punishment he dished out to his opponents.
Shaq and his feud with Shannon Sharpe
However, it turns out this isn’t the only brush the Los Angeles Lakers great has had with football. The retired NBA star has also been embroiled in a heated feud with former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe. The beef began when Sharpe accused Shaq of being jealous of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, who recently won his third NBA MVP title.
Sharpe criticized Shaq on his podcast, suggesting that the NBA icon should have secured more MVPs during his career. In response, Shaq fired back on Instagram, accusing Sharpe of trying to stir up controversy just for clicks. Shaq made it clear that he was defending another player, not harboring jealousy toward Jokic.
“Don’t forget I know what you did to get where you’re at,” Shaq wrote, flipping the jealousy accusation back at Sharpe.
While Shaq’s NFL dreams may have been left on the sidelines, his legacy as one of the most dominant forces in basketball history is unquestionable. But who knows-maybe in an alternate universe, Shaq would have been crushing defenses instead of backboards.
Xem bài viết này trên Instagram
News
WNBA Legend Sheryl Swoopes Is Getting Blasted For Purposely Leaking Private Messages She Had With Caitlin Clark
Sheryl Swoopes and Caitlin Clark (Photos via Getty Images) Sheryl Swoopes continues to dig herself a bigger hole when it comes to Caitlin Clark. WNBA Hall of Famer and…
“Hawk Tuah” Girl Haliey Welch Reveals The Hidden Tattoo She Has In A Curious Area Of her Body
Hawk Tuah Girl Haliey Welch (Photo via hay_welch/IG) Haliey Welch, the “Hawk Tuah” Girl, has a tattoo you’ve probably never seen. But she recently disclosed where it…
VIDEO: Caitlin Clark Caused A Major Stir With Her Pregame Outfit That Showed Off More Leg Than We’ve Ever Seen From Her
Caitlin Clark (Photo via @IndianaFever/Twitter) Caitlin Clark was grabbing online attention with her pregame outfit well before she went to the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Clark was going…
Travis Kelce will NOT be at the 2024 VMAs alongside Taylor Swift
Travis Kelce will not be joining girlfriend Taylor Swift as she bids to make history at the MTV Video Music Awards tonight, according to reports. Swift leads…
PHOTO: Miami Dolphins Reporter Sara Cardona Had Social Media Going Crazy Over Her Provocative Outfit In Week One
Sara Cardona (Photo via sara_cardonaa/Instagram) Sara Cardona has been an NBC6 sports reporter and anchor since June 2023, and her outfit choice has gone incredibly viral. The…
Terrell Owens Had A Hilarious 3-Word Reaction To Shannon Sharpe’s Leaked S*x T@PE That Has Everyone Scratching Their Heads
Terrell Owens and Shannon Sharpe (Photos via Getty Images) Former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens had a hilarious reaction to a leaked video of Shannon Sharpe having an interesting session…
End of content
No more pages to load