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Shaquille O’Neal continues to give back, this time the basketball superstar decided to renovate a basketball court at the Boys & Girls Club in Los Angeles, and then spent the afternoon with the kids, who were over the moon!
TMZ Sports was there when the Hall of Fame, local officials, and representatives of Icy Hot (Shaq’s long-time partner) opened the Comebaq Courtan initiative launched by the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation which aims to fix the courts and fields for children throughout the country.
“I came here once and saw that the court needed renovation,” O’Neal told us Thursday, adding, “I asked about the fix. They said yes and this is the result.”
“If we can help one, if we can help 100, we can help them all.”
FYI, this is Shaq’s fifth Comebaq court to date. They’ve also lined up spaces in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey, as well as other places like Atlanta, Miami and Las Vegas, where he’s spent considerable time.
And, there is more to come.
O’Neal may get most of the credit from the media, but Shaq is quick to credit his less famous partners who made this possible, including the Icy Hot Foundation and several advisors who helped contribute.
“Those counselors, the ones who volunteer every day, should get most of the credit,” Shaq says.
“If you need computers, laptops, fresh paint… then you call Uncle Shaq.”
The NBA legend earned almost $300 million in his 19-year career from salary alone. That’s not counting all the endorsements and lucrative deals O’Neal has made during and after his days as a professional player.
So you have the money, but this is much more than signing a check. Shaq cares about the well-being of children and that is impressive. At the end of the day, it’s things like this that make Shaq one of the most lovable NBA athletes of all time.
With the holidays just around the corner, we asked the 51-year-old what he was going to do for Thanksgiving, and in true Shaquille style he told us: “I don’t do anything at home.”
“I try to feed families who are homeless.”
2023-11-17 20:41:49
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