Shaquille O’ Neal is one of the most popular stars to come out of the NBA. So, it’s only part of the game that he’s heard some crazy rumors about him and the players around him after all this time.
However, this time the NBA icon is not shying away from discussing one of these infamous rumors. The Lakers legend recently spoke about the kind of fame it brought you, being an NBA player back in the day.
He appeared for a chat with Adam Lefkoe on The Big Podcast and decided to debunk one of the rumors about NBA stars. Lefkoe mentioned that women would probably be looking for these players in every city, but O’Neal denied this claim. The 53-year-old star stated that this was a myth and that he never saw any woman coming into the lobbies.
“That’s a myth,” the O’Neal said, “I’ve been in a lot of lobbies — I didn’t see anybody. So I remember I was coming in; they did this ‘Esquire’ article about how the girls would be waiting out. So, I was looking for that. Never happened. Never happened. Trust me, I was the baddest on the road. It never happened. You go and you see people.”
The NBA Legend Claimed He Never Did What The “Road-Trip Dating” Story Says He Did
Many people have an assumption about almost every NBA star living a certain kind of lifestyle while on the road. However, according to Shaquille O’Neal, that wasn’t exactly the case.
The NBA Legend did mention that those who lived the ‘tiger lifestyle’ had it difficult maintaining relationships. He stated in the same conversation with Adam Lefkoe that there were rules when it comes to commitment. O’Neal added that you can’t back down from your responsibility as a man in a relationship if you’re saying yes to someone.
“The problem with us is when you live a certain lifestyle, and then it all shuts down, you only know what you know,” O’Neal said. “So, if you don’t know the rules of commitment, it’ll never work. And then, you know, us being not committed, everything is an excuse. Because once you say to somebody, ‘I’m going to commit,’ you’ve got to do your f–king job as a man. Right?”
Brandon Jennings, who was also a guest on the show, agreed with O’Neal’s sentiments. The 53-year-old star, who has extensive experience as a superstar in the NBA, offers this advice to the youngsters.
His Candid Comments Offer A Rare Look At The Relationships And Pressures Behind The Game
Shaquille O’Neal always seems to know what he’s speaking about from experience. After spending almost 20 years as a player in the NBA, the 53-year-old has seen it all. He’s given the people a glimpse of his private life on a few occasions, but only chooses to speak about it as a lesson.
We’re sure that O’Neal has made some mistakes in the past that he’s regretted, so he wants a better life for anyone else out there in the NBA. Perhaps the young up-and-comers can take his words to heart and try and manage their relationships more healthily.
Published: Nov 3, 2025 03:25 pm