There are many reasons why Shaquille O’Neal was considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. It goes without saying that the basketball hall of famer was known for his powerful dunking abilities, but but the 7-foot-1-inch player was certainly taller than many of his opponents as well. That unique height has led to some particularly memorable moments for him, too. To that point, fans have to see the way a small CBS employee had to mic up O’Neal.
Shaq is one of the many former athletes who’ve gone into broadcasting, as he’s currently a co-host of Inside the NBA. Still, he takes the time to engage in TV interviews on issues that matter most to him. Recently, before prepping for his CBS Mornings interview about helping students reach their college dreams, the four-time NBA champion needed to get his mic setup straight. As can be seen in the video below, an employee hilariously needed a step ladder to get Shaq hooked up:
Shaquille O’Neal.
he actually had to hide behind trees to thwart the paparazzi. In a viral TikTok video, O’Neal even revealed some of the things he’s too tall to do, like scuba diving or skydiving. Of course, there are clear benefits to his stature, as the NBA Rookie of the Year recipient won championships with the help of his imposing physique.
Even in a world of tall celebrities, Shaq has proved on many occasions that he could tower over many of them. For example, Will Smith always thought his 6-foot-2-inch frame made him very tall until he compared himself to the former Miami Heat player. (Yeah, I’m afraid that wouldn’t even be a close competition.) Even former wrestler Dwayne Johnson’s height couldn’t match O’Neal’s. I think it’s safe to say that the retired NBA center stands above them all.
I, for one, am glad that I now know how Shaquille O’Neal has to be mic’ed up. While it may be a small detail on the surface, it further humanizes one of the greatest athletes to ever step foot on a basketball court.