Shaquille O'Neal is one of the most recognizable people in the world. He stands at 7 feet 1 inch tall, so it's hard to miss him. Yet, whatever you do, you should avoid referring to him as a celebrity. During a recent conversation with Page Six, Shaq admitted that he views himself as a normal person and doesn't like being placed into the celebrity box
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"Excuse my French, celebrities are a-holes," O'Neal said. "Weird, rude and obnoxious."
Despite Shaq's disdain for the celebrity label, it's hard to categorize him as anything but. He's been an NBA superstar and NBA champion; he's a beloved on-air analyst and, of course, a highly successful businessman.
Yet, behind all the success, Shaq is still exploring his interests and finding new avenues to explore. One of his latest avenues is producing a true-crime series called "Game Day Murders."
"I've been a sports guy, I've been a true crime guy, and finally, we're going to merge the two together," Shaq, a self-proclaimed "true crime junkie," Shaq said. "[I like it because] everybody has that detective in them."
The series is expected to focus on crime in the world of sports, both collegiate and professional.
"Our goal was to honor the legacy of those who lost their lives," he explained. "How we all could band together in tough times."
Shaquille O'Neal Had an All-Time Great Career
Before he was a businessman, Shaq was an unstoppable force on the NBA hardwood. He entered the NBA as the first-overall pick in 1992, joining the Orlando Magic. Even as a rookie, Shaq was selected to the NBA All-Star team, along with being named Rookie of the Year and finishing in the top 7 of MVP voting.
Shaq ultimately spent four years with the Magic before signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning three back-to-back championships between 1999 and 2002. During that time, O'Neal etched his name into the league's history books, earning NBA MVP in 2000 and NBA Finals MVP in '99, '00 and '01.
Eventually, Shaq and Lakers legend Kobe Bryant parted ways, with Shaq heading to the Miami Heat. In his second season on South Beach, Shaq won his fourth championship.
So, Shaq may not want to be called a celebrity, but his resume sure does read like one.
