One thing about Shaq is that he will give it to you raw and uncut.
He was on the PIVOT podcast and spoke openly and honestly about many things about his life and not just the good things but the bad things as well.
One thing that struck a nerve is how he never fully resolved his relationship with Kobe Byrant.
“I wish we could have communicated more, because I still have sleepless nights,” said O’Neal. “I was hit with a double whammy, because my sister passed away first, right before Kobe. I’m quick to say, I have to go do this podcast, I’ll call him later, and then never do it.
“I called my guy at the sheriff office, he confirmed it, and I started crying. I’m like goddamnit, I didn’t even holler at him. We did the sit down that everyone was waiting for, and that’s the last time we talked. I didn’t get the number, I didn’t call him, I didn’t text him, and that still haunts me. All the shit we went through, we could have shook hands and put it aside…I think about it all of the time, I have pictures of him in my house that I see and…I just can’t sleep.”
Shaq rarely talks about what led to his divorce from Shaunie O’Neal, but the guys on the PIVOT got him to open up about that relationship.
What happened to Shaq had happened to many athletes, especially when they were young and in their prime.
“I never talked about this and I’m glad you guys asked, but I was bad,” explained O’Neal. “She was awesome and I was really bad. I wasn’t protecting her and I wasn’t protecting those vows. She did exactly what she was supposed to do.
“The best feeling was coming home and hearing five or six different voices. I was just being greedy. I had the perfect situation. Wife was finer than a mug. I had it all. I don’t make excuses. I know I messed up. I was lost. In a 76,000 square foot house by myself. Lost…I said to myself, you’re not married, but you still need to provide for this family. Get your ass up and man up. What are you going to do next?”
People want to know what Shaq thinks of the current iteration of the Lakers and if LeBron can bring them another title after missing the playoffs this year.
He points out that young NBA players have no fear of old LeBron.
“The only knock on LeBron is that they don’t fear him anymore,” said O’Neal. “He’s older, so these young guys like a Ja Morant, they don’t fear him. Then you have a guy like Davis, who’s supposed to be carrying them, and he’s in street clothes. You have to look at the people at the top. I really think they need to get some younger guys in there around LeBron.”
It is an excellent conversation. Shaq goes on to talk about Penny Hardaway, his step-father, his mom, and his business ventures
I definitely suggest you give it a listen and while the Lakers aren’t in the playoffs these teams are and you check out the odds of them winning the title here.
“The Pivot Podcast” debuted in January 2022 as popular personalities and former NFL stars Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder host a weekly sit-down with A-list stars from the sports world and beyond delivering relevant football discussion mixed in with everyday topics that affect viewers globally.
With over 250,000 subscribers since debuting, new episodes drop on Tuesdays at 12 p.m. ET on their YouTube Channel, with audio also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Follow along on Twitter @ThePivot and Instagram @ThePivot, as well as on Facebook and Tik Tok. The podcast is produced by Shots Studios in collaboration with RFC Productions, an Emmy-award winning team committed to bringing fans the content they desire.
