We already brought you part one of our list of 15 things you probably did not know about Shaquille O’Neal, and now we’re back with part two! Check out eight more fascinating facts about the retired NBA superstar that you definitely (probably) did not know below. You might be surprised by what you find out!
Number Eight: His Feud With Kobe Was Real. Though many purported feuds between athletes turn out to be fabricated or hyped up, the one between O’Neal and Kobe Bryant was very, very real. Bryant and O’Neal have been involved in physical altercations during practices, and O’Neal was reportedly jealous of Bryan’s popularity. They each bashed the other in interviews, although word has it they’re cool now.
Number Seven: SAG Fined Him. O’Neal was fined by the Screen Actors Guild after he accidentally crossed the picket line to film a television advertisement while the Screen Actors Guild was on strike.
Number Six: He Is Serious About Education. O’Neal may have left college early to pursue a career in the NBA, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t serious about education. O’Neal ended up acquiring his Bachelor’s Degree, and he even got his doctorate toward the end of his career with the NBA. Speaking of which…
Number Five: He Had the Best GPA on His College Team. O’Neal was with the Louisiana State Tigers for three years before he left to go to the NBA. While he was with the Tigers, he had the best GPA on his team. Looks like he’s talented both on and off the court!
Number Four: He Was Player of the Week in His First Week. In an unprecedented event, O’Neal was named NBA’s Player of the Week in his very first week with the NBA. He is the only player in the history of the NBA to do so.
Number Three: His Shoe Size Is 22EEE. O’Neal is 7’1″ tall, so it’s no surprise that he has long, wide feet. However, a size 22 with a width of EEE is straight up insane.
Number Two: He Broke an NBA Contract Record. When O’Neal signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996, he signed a seven-year contract for $121 million. This broke the previous record for the NBA’s biggest contract.
Number One: He Paid for George Mikan’s Funeral. O’Neal had a special connection to late NBA star George Mikan. Because he cited Mikan as one of his biggest influences, he funded Mikan’s funeral when he passed away.