“I Get Spaghetti and Meatballs and One Piece of Bread”: Shaquille O’Neal Once Revealed Bizarre Pre-Game Ritual From His Magic Days

Published 09/18/2022, 6:30 AM EDT

Shaquille O’Neal is undoubtedly one of the best big men to ever step foot on the court. Seeing the seven-foot giant jumping over his rival’s head to score a dunk, was worth the money alone for fans. And the various pre-game rituals of their idols are something that fans adore. Some pre-game rituals are bizarre, while others are rather common.

Kobe Bryant once revealed that he repeatedly listened to the ‘Halloween’ theme music before a big game.

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Shaquille O’Neal reveals his bizarre pre-game ritual

Shaquille O’Neal was making headlines even before he joined the NBA. ESPN throwback released an exclusive interview with Shaq in 2014. In that interview, the Los Angeles Lakers legend talked about his personal and professional life. His explanation of his pre-game ritual was one of the interview’s highlights.

“I had many, many pre-game rituals,” the Hall of Famer said. “So in Orlando, it was after shootaround, I’d go to this Italian restaurant and get spaghetti and meatballs and one piece of bread,” Shaq added. The four-time NBA champion also added that he would have then go home and take a nap, followed by a hot shower and then a cold shower before heading to the stadium.

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The Big Diesel also added that if he had a bad game, then he would switch things up, such as not going to the restaurant and instead having the spaghetti delivered to his house. Shaq would keep fine-tuning things until he had a dominant game once again.

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Shaq opens up about his pre-game songs

One of the most common pre-games rituals has to be listening to songs. Some players listened to music that pumped them up, while others prefer music to help them zone out. Shaq said that he used to listen to the song ‘Bullet Proof Soul’ by Sade before arriving at the game. The catchy beat of the song tickled his ears and the piano would help calm him down. While riding to the game, he shifted to Wu-Tang Clan, Method Man, Snoop Dogg, or Dr. Dre.

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Everyone knows the big man is coming as he rides through the neighborhood with songs blasting from the big speakers in his car.

What do you think of Shaq’s pre-game rituals? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Written by:

Ritesh Jha is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor's in Technology in Computer Science from Rungta College. Ritesh worked as an intern content writer for a digital marketing agency called KCAS Branding before joining EssentiallySports.

Edited by:

Veer Badani

“I Get Spaghetti and Meatballs and One Piece of Bread”: Shaquille O’Neal Once Revealed Bizarre Pre-Game Ritual From His Magic Days

Shaquille O’Neal reveals his bizarre pre-game ritual

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Shaq opens up about his pre-game songs