CNN
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4 times NBA champion 2000 NBA MVP Shaquille O’Neal sent a cryptic message after denying his hopes of investing in an NBA team earlier this month. Phoenix Suns.
The eight-time All-NBA First Team selection raised an eyebrow when asked by CNN’s Becky Anderson about his interest on Sunday, and replied, “I don’t know what to say.” I just want to go home, I’ll leave that up to the viewer [what it means]. I want to go home. ”
Home can be any number of places for O’Neill. He played at a high school in San Antonio, Texas, where the Spurs play. His college years were spent at his LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, adjacent to New Orleans’ Pelicans. His first professional contract was in Orlando, where the Magic play.In Los Angeles, he won a famous three-peat with the Lakers alongside his peers NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
O’Neill was in Abu Dhabi for the highly anticipated pre-season NBA game between the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. The Atlanta Hawks won both games at the packed 18,000-seat Etihad arena.
“It’s historic…it’s incredible. I’m going to do my job to let the world know about this amazing place,” he said. “Near perfection is what I call. Well, the beach, the people are so nice, the real estate, and the fact that this place is only 50 years old and has grown.”
A new multi-year partnership between the NBA and the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi) aims to promote and develop the sport in a region where the sport is already popular. Much of the appeal of sports in the United Arab Emirates is due to her over 500,000 Filipinos living in the country (Filipinos’ favorite sport is basketball).
The upcoming 2022/23 season will mark the first time an NBA game has been played overseas since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Another player who has been vocal about owning an NBA franchise is Los Angeles Lakers player LeBron James, who told NBA Commissioner Adam Silver: he wants to take the team to las vegasJames is looking to close out Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record in NBA history, but O’Neill said he’s “jealous” of his old teammate from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“LeBron and his team have done a great job. He’s a great businessman,” O’Neill told CNN.[I’m] In that sense, I envy LeBron. He’s trying to do something that hasn’t been done in 20, 30 years. It is his once-in-a-lifetime achievement. ”
James will continue to prove his eligibility for basketball’s Mount Rushmore, but O’Neill’s resume is nothing to scoff at. Former Lakers he’s a four-time NBA champion, three-time NBA Finals he’s MVP, a 15-time NBA All-Star, and on his 50th and his 75th anniversary he’s ranked in the NBA’s top 50 and he’s 75 was a member of the players of
O’Neill credits some of his success on the court to his parents. He says his parents raised him to be humble and instilled in him a love of the game.
“I parked my car in Madison Square Garden and was like, ‘Oh my God, this is real,’ right? And you walk in and you smell popcorn, you smell pretzels. Dad brings pretzels and sodas and walks to my seat…I was a kid who loved to watch games..“My mom keeps me down. , Mother said, “Who are you?” And it makes a lot of sense. ”
The 2022/23 season will tip off with a doubleheader on October 18 when the Boston Celtics take on the Philadelphia 76ers before the defending champion Golden State Warriors take on James’ Lakers.
