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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 23: Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal laughs as he attends the unveiling of the Shaq Courts at the Doolittle Complex donated by Icy Hot and the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation in partnership with the city of Las Vegas on October 23, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Icy Hot)

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 23: Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal laughs as he attends the unveiling of the Shaq Courts at the Doolittle Complex donated by Icy Hot and the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation in partnership with the city of Las Vegas on October 23, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Icy Hot)
Even though he’s a bona fide celebrity in multiple avenues, there is one thing that truly separates DJ Diesel. Whether it be in business, or as a DJ, Shaquille O’Neal is true to his hospitality and his generosity. As a result, colleagues, media, and most importantly, the people, all love him. Even though late for a flight, the Los Angeles Lakers legend makes sure to meet people who came to see the big guy. Recently, it was no different. However, this time Shaq was in for a surprise when meeting the guest that awaited his arrival.
So much so, that the 7-footer even made a promise to return. What led to O’Neal’s delay? Let’s find out.
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Shaquille O’Neal has a chance encounter
As a DJ, Shaq continues to stretch the boundaries. While he began with a “celebrity” moniker for his performances, his steady improvement now classifies him as a professional. But, he continues to push the envelope. Rather than wait for festivals, the former Miami Heat champion has his own Bass Music Festival. However, it wasn’t the beats that O’Neal’s illustrious guest was there to see.
Opal Lee has been a pioneer for women and the black community. A Texas Women’s Hall of Famer, she is instrumental in the celebration of Juneteenth. In 2016, she went on a long walk, one that nearly every American is familiar with.

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SONOMA, CA – JUNE 11: Shaquille O’Neal, aka DJ Diesel, DJ’s a post-race concert after the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 on June 11, 2023, at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, CA. (Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Traversing the distance between Forth Worth, where Shaq’s All-Star festival was taking place, to Washington D.C. in 2.5-mile partitions, Lee’s advocating for Juneteenth as a national holiday is wholly empowering. The distance is a representation of the time it took for Texans to learn about Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Program declaration.
So, having such an esteemed guest was clearly of importance to O’Neal. As the 96-year-old was waiting for a conversation with the big man, Dione Sims, her granddaughter, told the Dallas Morning News about her reasons for coming. ‘We’d love for him to be able to be a part of our festival this summer.”?
The idea was so appealing to the 351-pounder that he had to delay his flight and make a promise to return.
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Shaquille O’Neal’s promise
Despite a $27 million private jet waiting in the hangar, O’Neal made it a point to wait and listen to Lee.
She wanted to show the renderings of the National Juneteenth Museum to the 4-time NBA Champion. Further, she had a plan of telling him about her causes for the entire ordeal.
Even though the legend is rich enough to have his own private jet, complete with his?Dunkman?logo, his generosity and love for people still continue to shine through.
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With a promise to return and a plane at his disposal, chances are his return is more genuine than others. Let’s see what the potential activist duo can get up to.
Watch This Story: Shaquille O’Neal’s Near-Death Equestrian Saga With A Vengeful Horse
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