For a while during his playing days, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal was seemingly happily married. But he ended up getting a divorce from Shaunie Henderson, which was finalized in 2011.
Since then, he has dated at least a couple of women, and actor Deon Cole admitted on “Club Shay Shay” that he hooked up with one of the big man’s old lovers. He said he was “traumatized” by the woman’s admission that she used to date O’Neal.
"Don't ever f*** after Shaq. … That was traumatizing." – Deon Cole
Full episode is streaming on Club Shay Shay's YouTube pic.twitter.com/KnwE7anZCK
— Club Shay Shay (@ClubShayShay) October 9, 2024
“Don’t ever f— after Shaq,” said Cole. “That’s the point. Just don’t do it. … After I got up, I was like, ‘Man, that was real hollow. That was real hollow. Why was that so hollow?'”
Cole has made a name for himself by making appearances on the ABC sitcom “Black-ish,” and prior to that role, he was a stand-up comedian, as well as a writer for late-night comedian Conan O’Brien. He raises a son as a single father.
O’Neal has been arguably as big a celebrity as any actor or musician over the years, thanks to his outsized personality and incredible basketball talents. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, and he entered the league amidst some massive hype. Perhaps only LeBron James and San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama came in with more hype surrounding them.
The Louisiana State University product ended up playing 19 seasons and winning four championships while becoming arguably the most dominant center in basketball history. He is best remembered as a member of those dynastic Los Angeles Lakers teams of the early 2000s along with fellow superstar and Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant.
Since ending his playing career following the 2010-11 season, O’Neal has remained in the public light. Shortly after his retirement, he joined the crew on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” and became an outstanding colleague of Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and host Ernie Johnson Jr. He can also be seen on television in commercials for Icy Hot, an over-the-counter pain relief cream.
O’Neal has also tried his hand at being a hip-hop artist, and he has also dipped his toes in the waters of entrepreneurship. From 2013 to 2022, he was a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings, and last year, sneaker company Reebok named him its president of basketball.
