Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal admits that there’s interest in taking over as owner for one of his former teams.
Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix asked the four-time NBA Champion a series of questions during a recent interview. Mannix asked O’Neal if he was approached about becoming a coach, but the Hall of Famer admitted that he doesn’t think he’d be cut out for it.
During the interview, O’Neal mentioned that he’s eyeing the possibility of becoming an NBA team owner. O’Neal stated that he’s “interested in a certain team in Florida”, and stated that it’s not the Miami Heat.
It’s obvious as to which team Shaq was referring to. The only other NBA team in Florida is the Orlando Magic, where Shaq spent the first four seasons of his professional basketball career.
Dan DeVos, part of the NBA’s Board of Governors, serves as the chairman of the Magic.
Orlando drafted O’Neal first overall in 1992. The 15-time All-Star led Orlando to the NBA Finals in 1995, where they were unexpectedly swept by the defending champion Houston Rockets.
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After four years in Orlando, O’Neal signed a lucrative contract with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996. O’Neal and Kobe Bryant formed one of the all-time great NBA duos, guiding the Lakers to three straight championships from 2000 to ’02.
O’Neal won the fourth and final NBA championship of his career with Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat in the 2006 season.
