NBA Hall-of-Famer, entertainment personality, musical artist-producer, entrepreneur, and international artist Shaquille O’Neal has released a new single with emerging hip-hop artist Blackway called “King Talk”. Produced by Koko, the song and official lyric video are out now on all streaming platforms via Hive Music/Position Music.
O’Neal first teased the song on Feb. 7 on his Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, in a viral animation video that celebrated LeBron James surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabaar as the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. Shaq has over 60 million combined social media followers, and the video featuring “King Talk” has now been viewed over16 million times, leaving many people in the comment section asking Shaq when the song will be officially released. “King Talk” is one of Shaq’s first steps back into rapping after dropping his notorious hip-hop albums Shaq Diesel and Shaq-Fu: Da Return in the mid-90’s. With the NBA Playoffs in full swing, Shaq and Blackway decided today was the perfect day to drop it.
“KoKo and I have been sending beats back and forth for a minute now and after he played me this one, I knew I had to jump on it. I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment for a collab with Blackway and this was it. This is the type of record that gets me hyped like I’m walking out for game seven of the finals. The lyrics and vibe of this track was so perfect for the moment when LeBron James set the NBA scoring record and I knew I had to share it with the world—a king recognizes a king. It was crazy to see so many people connect with the song when they heard the teaser, just like I did when we created it,” says O’Neal.
“King Talk” was in the works with O’Neal, Blackway and Koko for months and the trio have plans to release more music together in 2023 and beyond.
Lolo Jones is one of the most accomplished athletes around. She began her career in the early 2000s at LSU as a sprinter and hurdler. An 11-time All-American, she won the 60m indoor hurdles in 2003 and was part of LSU’s back-to-back 4x100m relay team in 2003 and 2004. However, she failed to qualify for the 2004 Olympics. She made it to Beijing in 2008 but stumbled on the penultimate hurdle in the 100m event, turning a potential gold into a 7th-place finish. She improved to a 4th-place finish at London 2012. She also picked up world indoor titles in 2008 and 2010.
However, that isn’t her only sporting accomplishment. Jones (who is still racing as of 2023) is also a two-time World Championship bobsleigh gold medallist. She took home her first medal at the 2013 championships in the mixed team event. She returned to the podium in 2021, taking gold in the two-woman event. She is one of the greatest athletes to ever represent the United States.
Jones Calls Shaq “High” For Calling Reese the LSU GOAT
Jones’ success, and status as a Tigers alum, puts her in a unique position to debate Shaq’s recent claim that current junior Angel Reese is the greatest athlete to come out of LSU. “Look, Shaq’s just bored, you know? He’s coming off the hip surgery, he’s chilling at home. I think honestly that Shaq is high on some pain medicine.” However, Jones was not calling herself the GOAT, but instead arguing for LSU’s athletic prowess. “The list is so big from LSU. I just got back from practice – I train with thirteen Olympic athletes, all from LSU.” Overall, Jones spent over five minutes highlighting fellow alums and breaking down exactly why Shaq is wrong.
As much as we love Angel Reese, Jones has a point. LSU is absolutely loaded with GOAT contenders in every sport. Everyone knows that LSU is a sports school but one look at the school’s athletic hall of fame or pro league rosters shows you just how far the school sends its athletes. While Jones is clearly toying with Shaq a little, her overall point is clear. It’s that not Reese, who has only spent one season with LSU, isn’t great. It’s more that the LSU GOAT is not a title that can be handed out so easily. That is especially the case when LSU has produced so many athletes in sports that people don’t often think about. So while Jones is not bashing Reese in any way, she is standing up for the athletic prestige of her alma mater.
Shaquille O’Neal, or just Shaq as he is popularly referred to, is a four-time NBA champion with a basketball career that spans 19 years. Shaq is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players ever. He spends much of his time these days as a sports analyst for the TNT show, Inside the NBA. Shaq has also managed to build a business empire outside basketball. Forbes estimates that the former Lakers player is worth $400 million. This makes him one of the wealthiest retired basketball players. Shaq’s investment portfolio includes companies like General Electric, Apple, and PepsiCo. Additionally, he was an early investor in Google.
Yet, Shaq has always been an entertainer, leading him to dabble in other genres besides sports. O’Neal has five studio albums and one compilation project. Unbelievably, most of his discography was recorded during his prime NBA years. Further, his debut Shaq Diesel received platinum certification from the RIAA. It’s hard to imagine Shaq as a serious musician even after a substantial discography and a platinum certification. Did you know that he did a song with Michael Jackson? It was called “2 Bad” and was featured in Jackson’s HIStory album.
O’Neal is also a bona fide cameo star. He has appeared in numerous movies and television shows, primarily as himself. Additionally, Shaq starred in his own superhero movie based on DC characters in 1997. His feature run on blockbuster movies is impressive. Here are some films that were just a little better because they received the ‘Shaq-treatment’.
Hubie Halloween (2020)
Hubie Halloween is a horror comedy film co-written by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler. Adam also plays the lead role of Hubie. Hubie Halloween premiered in 2020 and can be streamed on Netflix. The plot follows the title character, a deli employee, who is ridiculed by his town and is the butt of many practical jokes. Hubie spends his Halloweens monitoring the city as the official Halloween Helper.
Then, he investigates a mysterious phenomenon in the city and reports it to the police. Sgt. Steve Downey (Kevin James) jokingly recruits Hubie as an ‘Auxiliary Undercover Unit.’ The ‘AUU’ is a false title that Sgt. Downey gives to Hubie so that he does not bother him. Hubie, however, takes the title seriously. He later meets DJ Aurora, played by Shaq. Aurora is a radio DJ who has a woman’s voice. Hubie’s disbelief of DJ Aurora being a man and subsequent banter between the two makes for a hilarious scene. To finish it up, it is also revealed that DJ Aurora’s wife has a raspy manly voice.
What Men Want (2019)
What Men Want is a romantic comedy that stars Taraji P. Henson, Erykah Badu, and Tracy Morgan. The movie premiered in 2019 and is a loose adaptation of the 2000 film, What Women Want, which stars Mel Gibson. The film was considered a success managing to gross $72.2 million at the global box office against a production budget of $20 million. Taraji plays Alison Davis, a successful sports agent in Atlanta. She inadvertently drinks a potent concoction given by a shaman and gains the ability to hear men’s inner thoughts. Shaq is Alison’s client and plays himself in the movie. Alison and Shaq are in the same scene during one of the poker nights. Tracy Morgan steals the scene, but Shaq’s brief cameo is Shaq being classic Shaq.
Uncle Drew (2018)
Uncle Drew is a sports comedy film directed by Charles Stone III and released by Lionsgate in June 2018. Kyrie Irving is the star of the film. His co-stars include former basketball players Chris Webber, Reggie Miller, Nate Robinson, Lisa Leslie, and Shaq. Mike Epps and Tiffany Haddish are also featured in the film.
O’Neal plays the character of Big Fella, a former basketball player who now runs a martial arts dojo. He reluctantly joined his former teammates to create a team to compete in a basketball tournament. Sadly, Big Fella has a heart attack during one of the games and cannot continue with the tournament.
Blended (2014)
Blended is a wholesome romantic comedy that stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. Sandler and Barrymore play single parents who agree to go on one date without expecting to see each other again. Sandler, Jack Giarraputo, and Mike Karz co-produced the film. Shaq also appears in the film playing the character of Doug. He is friends with Jim Friedman (Sandler), and they work together at a department store. Blended is one of multiple Adam Sandler movies that Shaq has been featured.
Grown Ups 2 (2013)
Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, and David Spade star in the off-beat comedy about friendship and family. Shaq plays the supporting role of Officer Fluzoo. He patrols the town and interacts with the main characters throughout the film. Officer Fluzzo initially comes off as intimidating, but he reveals his friendly and quirky demeanor as the movie progresses.
One of the more memorable and humorous scenes that feature Shaq is at a police station where Officer Fluzzo engages Eric Lamonsoff (James) in a dance battle. Grown Ups 2 was not a critic favorite but has managed to gross $128 million at the global box office. It’s cult classic appeal proves that critics may not always be right.
Scary Movie 4 (2006)
Scary Movie 4 is the fourth installment of the Scary Movie parody film series. The movie stars Regina Hall and Anna Faris, among others. Comedian Kevin Hart also plays a part in the film. Lil Jon, Dr. Phil, and Shaq appear as themselves. The Scary Movie franchise usually finds niche success, and the fourth installment amassed $178 million at the global box office. Shaq’s scene with Dr. Phil is hilarious. It pokes fun at his free throws and Dr. Phil’s emotional weaknesses.
Jack and Jill (2011)
Jack and Jill is a 2011 comedy directed by Dennis Dugan. Steve Koren and Adam Sandler co-wrote the script. The film was released in November 2011 and grossed $149 million at the box office from a $79 million production budget. Adam Sandler plays twins Jack and Jill in the movie. Katie Holmes and Eugenio Derbez also feature in the film. Al Pacino appears as himself, and Shaq also makes a brief cameo in the film.
Shaquille O’Neal is a former professional basketball player widely regarded as one of the greatest centers in the history of the NBA. During his 19-year basketball career, O’Neal played for teams like the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, and Miami Heat. He was known for his dominating size and strength while playing. Shaq has also won many awards during his basketball career, like four NBA championships and 15 NBA All-Star selections. His impact on basketball is huge, and fans also love his off-court personality. He is a beloved figure in sports and entertainment, and we’re looking at the highlights of his career.
A Legend’s Early Life
College Basketball: Closeup of LSU Shaquille O’Neal (33) during game vs Tennessee at Pete Maravich Assembly Center
Baton Rouge, LA 2/23/1991
CREDIT: John Biever (Photo by John Biever /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
(Set Number: X41073 )
Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal was born in Newark, New Jersey, on March 6, 1972. He grew up in Newark and later moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he attended Robert G. Cole High School. O’Neal was already an imposing figure in high school, standing at 6’9″ and weighing over 200 pounds. Colleges nationwide heavily recruited O’Neal for basketball after he played in high school. He eventually chose to attend Louisiana State University (LSU) and played for the Tigers from 1989 to 1992. When O’Neal was studying at LSU, he continued to excel on the court. He scored an average of 21.6 points, 13.5 rebounds, and blocked 4.6 shots per game in his second year. People noticed how good he was, and he became famous because of his basketball skills.
Shaq’s NBA Career
UNDATED: Shaquille O’Neal poses with Shaq labeled items and basketballs in a studio. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images)
After three years at LSU, O’Neal declared for the NBA draft in 1992. The Orlando Magic picked him first, and he became one of the best players in the NBA. In his first year, he got an average of 23.4 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game. Because of this, he won the NBA Rookie of the Year award. When O’Neal played for the Lakers, he was outstanding and won three NBA championships with the team. In the 2000 NBA Finals, O’Neal earned the Finals MVP award by averaging 38 points and 16.7 rebounds per game.
Accomplishments and Awards
Kobe Bryant (L) of the Los Angeles Lakers holds the Larry O’Brian trophy as teammate Shaquille O’Neal (L) hold the MVP trophy after winning the NBA Championship against Indiana Pacers 19 June, 2000, after game six of the NBA Finals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The Lakers won the game 116-111 to take the NBA title 4-2 in the best-of-seven series. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO (Photo by – / AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)
Shaquille O’Neal’s accomplishments and awards throughout his NBA career are numerous and impressive. O’Neal played for nearly two decades and won four NBA championships, a significant achievement. He earned three NBA Finals MVP awards and was selected to the NBA All-Star team 15 times. Further, he won two NBA scoring titles and two Olympic gold medals. In 1993, he won the NBA Rookie of the Year award, recognizing him as the best rookie player. In 1996, he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in the history of the NBA. O’Neal’s accomplishments and awards show that he was one of the most influential players of his time. His impact on basketball has made him a true legend of the sport.
Duos with Kobe Bryant & Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade (L) and Shaquille O’Neal (R) of the Miami Heat celebrate after winning the NBA Finals 95-92 in Game Six against the Dallas Mavericks 20 June 2006 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas Texas. Dwyane Wade was named MVP leading the Heat to 4-2 best-of-seven series victory. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)
Shaquille O’Neal’s basketball career was enlightened with the most dominant duo in the history of the NBA: Kobe Bryant during their time with the Los Angeles Lakers. The two players complemented each other perfectly, with O’Neal’s dominant post play and Bryant’s scoring ability and perimeter skills. Together, they won NBA championships from 2000 to 2002. Although O’Neal and Bryant played well together, they also had some problems and disagreements during their time as teammates.
After O’Neal departed from the Lakers, he formed another successful duo with Dwyane Wade during his time with the Miami Heat. O’Neal helped Wade lead the Heat to win an NBA championship in 2006. Shaq played well and was named the NBA Finals MVP for the third time. Even though they didn’t play together for very long, O’Neal and Wade made history together.
Retirement & Legacy
BURBANK, CA – JANUARY 13: Shareef O’Neal (L) poses with Shaquille O’Neal (C) and Shaunie O’Neal (R) as he celebrates 18th birthday party at West Coast Customs on January 13, 2018 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images)
After the 2010-2011 NBA season, O’Neal announced his retirement from professional basketball. Off the court, O’Neal has also made a name for himself as a television personality, actor, and entrepreneur. He has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, including Blue Chips, Kazaam, and Inside the NBA. His size and strength revolutionized the center position and forced teams to adapt their strategies to deal with his dominance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, O’Neal’s career was marked by unparalleled dominance and success. He played for several teams during his 19-year career, leaving an indelible mark on each of them with his immense size, strength, and skill. Off the court, he has continued to make an impact through his philanthropic work and various ventures in the entertainment industry. O’Neal’s legacy as one of the most significant centers in NBA history is secure, and his impact on the game and popular culture will be felt for generations to come.
According to Shareef O’Neal, growing up with a celebrity dad has its ups and downs.
During a recent interview with Essence Magazine, Shareef O’Neal—current power forward for the NBA G League Ignite and second oldest son of Shaquille O’Neal—revealed that he and his siblings chose to keep the identity of their father a secret in order to shield them from being treated differently.
Shareef explained:
“The thing about me that not a lot of people know is nobody knew who my dad was at none of my schools until I was about 15 or 16 years old. All the parent-teacher conferences, it was just my mom who came. It was a set plan. We just kind of hid it so people didn’t treat us differently.”
“But when basketball season started coming around, people started filming the games. There was a small game, 8 o’clock in the morning, my dad came, and someone happened to film him. They posted it on YouTube, and that was it after that. Everyone knew.”
“I feel like being the son of an athlete of his caliber made me grow up a lot faster. I got to see things most young kids wouldn’t see. I got to be behind the scenes of the NBA life and that famous lifestyle.”
Shareef’s sister, Amirah O’Neal, added that growing up with Shaq as their father was “fun.”
“Growing up with my dad being Shaquille O’Neal was great. There were some good things as well as bad things, but due to the fact that I had two amazing parents growing up, paving my own and staying in my own lane has been pretty easy.”
The five O’Neal kids–Shareef, Amirah, Myles, Shaqir, and Me’arah recently came together for a campaign for Silk, rocking the iconic milk mustaches from the ’90s as a nod to their old dad.
Amirah shared her excitement of working on this campaign and paying homage to her father.
“Working on something so special like the Silk Nextmilk campaign along with my siblings was such a great experience. I had such a good time, and I’m so glad that my siblings and I had the chance to get together and pay homage to my dad’s ad.”
Shaquille O’Neal is currently recovering from hip surgery. According to TMZ Sports, the image on social media that startled fans and supporters across the world is just Shaq recovering from the procedure.
Over the weekend, Shaq was seen online recovering after successful surgery to have his hip corrected.
For TV timing, it was right in the period The Big Diesel would get a break from his NBA on TNT work. The believed target is for Shaq to return to the air for the NBA playoffs around April 16.
Shaq is someone who is beloved by people all around the world. There is a very good reason for this as he is one of those personalities who is always brightening up a room. Overall, Shaq is a man of many talents. For instance, he is one of the best players in the history of the NBA. Moreover, he is a world-renowned DJ who has played at some of the biggest festivals in the entire world. Needless to say, he is an impressive individual. Consequently, people are always excited to see what he will do next.
Over the weekend, however, the NBA Hall-Of-Famer actually had people very worried about his condition. This is due to the fact that he posted a tweet of himself in a hospital bed. He tagged Ernie Johnson and Candace Parker, saying he misses them while noting “I’m always watching.” Clearly, he was referencing NBA on TNT and the shows he does for them. Although, fans were certainly concerned about why Shaq would need to be in the hospital. After all, he had plenty of wires connected to him.
According to TMZ, fans do not have to worry. Essentially, Shaq just needed a minor hip surgery to repair some damage. Overall, it was a very successful operation, and the NBA legend is doing just fine. That said, there was definitely some cause for concern there. Either way, Shaq is a very big man, and when you are of his stature, it is easy for your body to break down quickly. Consequently, it should come as no surprise that he has had to get these kinds of operations. Hopefully, his issue is fixed and he can get back on set in no time.
Shaq is definitely the most valued member of the NBA On TNT crew. He has four NBA titles and multiple Finals MVPs. Moreover, he has the most individual accolades of any of the people on the set. He has been with TNT for years now, and he has made for some truly hilarious moments. We wish the big man nothing but the best in his recovery.
Shaq is someone who has a ton of experience when it comes to professional basketball. Overall, Shaquille O’Neal is a legend in the basketball world. He was able to win four NBA championships, and he even made it to the Hall of Fame. Moreover, he is now an analyst on TNT where he is able to give his views on the game of basketball. Ultimately, he is someone that a lot of people respect and in many ways, he is an OG for some of these younger players.
When you are young, it is easy to make mistakes. Although you might have all the money in the world, the temptation to act out is always there. Unfortunately, Ja Morant is learning that lesson the hard way right now. The Memphis Grizzlies superstar has been suspended indefinitely and there is no telling when he may return. After brandishing a gun on Instagram Live, many questions have been asked of Ja. Overall, it is a terrible look, and on Tuesday night, Shaq spoke out with his reactions on the matter.
Shaq Reacts
For the most part, Shaq acted as an OG in the situation. He decided to be as honest as possible with Morant, while also delivering some advice that will serve him well. “You don’t go live, nobody knows he has a weapon, [then] we’re not talking about this, but HE did that,” Shaq explained. “We have to stop putting ourselves in positions where they can take away the things that we worked hard for. You got to have enough common sense to know that wasn’t going to go how you wanted it to go. You’re not a rapper. You’re an NBA player.”
These are words that everyone in the league can live by. There have been numerous situations where players have ruined their careers over stupidities. However, there are ways to protect yourselves, and players need to be cognizant of that, moving forward. Hopefully, Morant will take this advice and turn his life around, before things get out of hand. Let us know what you think of Shaq’s take, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.
Over the years, Shaq has been one of the most critical voices on Inside The NBA. The TNT broadcast has always been known for being hilarious. However, when it comes to serious commentary on today’s game, Shaq and Charles Barkley are hyper-critical. Moreover, sometimes it feels like they are being straight-up unfair to certain teams and players. One would just have to watch Barkley talk about Kevin Durant to understand what we mean. Not to mention, Shaq’s recent comments about Rui Hachimura are an indictment of his knowledge of the game.
That said, one area in which O’Neal has been largely correct is none other than the Los Angeles Clippers. Overall, the Clippers are trying to win a championship with their dynamic duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Unfortunately, injuries have prevented them from getting that done. Furthermore, they just brought in Russell Westbrook, and since his acquisition, the Clippers have lost three-straight games. This is not good at all, and there is this sense that the Clippers will not be able to make a deep playoff run. As it turns out, Shaq is one of the pundits feeling that way.
Shaq Talks Clippers
“When you’re the one-two punch..you have to play extraordinary, you have to play magnificent, and you have to play legendary.” @SHAQ‘s expectations of the Clipper’s duo of Kawhi and PG pic.twitter.com/GxOchjSQUD
In the clip above, Shaq can be heard explaining what it will take for the Clippers to go far. Overall, he thinks it will all hinge on George and Leonard. He needs to see more from them, otherwise, they are likely to be a first or second-round out. “When you’re the one-two punch..you have to play extraordinary, you have to play magnificent, and you have to play legendary,” Shaq said. As far as Shaq hot takes are concerned, this one is actually pretty fair and reasonable.
The Clippers were a team constructed to win a championship. Leonard hand-picked George to be his teammate, however, it hasn’t gone as planned. This could be one of their last chances to get a title together, and if they don’t do it, then the experiment will be considered a colossal failure. Give us your thoughts on the Clippers’ title chances, down below. Also, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the best players in the entire history of the NBA. Throughout his career, he was able to reach a plethora of heights. Overall, he finished his career as the league’s all-time leading scorer. More recently, this record was broken by LeBron, however, this does not take away from Kareem’s legend. He is still a top-three player ever, and if you know anything about basketball, then you respect Abdul-Jabbar for all that he accomplished. He was a trailblazer who remains highly respected by all.
Interestingly enough, much has been made of his relationship with another Lakers legend, Shaquille O’Neal. The night that LeBron broke the record, Kareem was on the NBA On TNT broadcast. During the interview with the Inside The NBA crew, Abdul-Jabbar cleared the air with Shaq over rumors that they didn’t like each other. Overall, it was a touching moment as Kareem praised Shaq for all that he did. Subsequently, Shaq did the same noting that he always looked up to the Lakers legend.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Talks Shaq
During an interview with Clutch Points over All-Star weekend, Abdul-Jabbar explained the origins of the Shaq beef rumors. Simply, Kareem didn’t initially support Shaq because he wanted the big man to become the best version of himself first. “I made up for a lot of time with Shaquille yesterday,” Kareem revealed. “He interviewed me, you know, we just got a lot of things straight. He used to think I hated him and that was never the case. I was waiting for him to reach his potential before I could support him. I didn’t want to support when he was just a [young guy]. He and Kobe got together and changed everybody’s idea of what he was possible of doing.”
Now that the two have touched base, fans can finally put all of the rumors and theories to bed. These two men are legends of not just the Lakers, but the NBA as a whole. It would have been a true shame if they did, indeed, not like each other. That said, let us know your thoughts on the situation, in the comments below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.
