Ever since the LeBron James-Effortless Motors debacle, customized Tesla Cybertrucks have been a thing for Shaquille O’Neal. Back then, the dealership’s newly hired intern posted how Bron was their client and The King called out the dealership for spreading fake news. At the same time, Shaq, who was looking for a spacious car that could fit his 7-ft-1 frame, found a car of his dreams and a dealer who would make the dreams come true. He even backtracked on his promise once, “Can’t buy another car, can’t buy another boat, can’t buy no more jewelry, can’t buy no more cars even though I just bought a new Tesla.” But three customized Cyberbeasts later, he had a change of heart. On the Teslas, not the dealership, as he recently added another giant to his collection, but it’s not from Elon Musk’s brand.

Shaq’s 40-plus car garage will now have a third Cadillac Escalade IQ as he pauses the Cybertruck splurges. But this one’s extra special. Remember the dealership that got themselves in a situation with Bron, well, they’ve been one of Shaq’s contacts that has always delivered. No pun intended. And when it came to adding a new 7-seater Electric SUV beast starting at $127,700 in his garage, he dialed the familiar number of the dealership’s CEO Ahmad Abdelrahman. But he didn’t make the delivery all that easy.

O’Neal’s pranks are well known in the NBA world. But they certainly don’t stop there. And when the business turns into a friendship, you know Big Aristotle would add some sparks to it with his humorous fun because “Shaq plays too much.” And that’s what he did again because he did not like the car that Ahmad delivered this time. 

Knocking on Shaq’s huge door, Ahmad was first greeted by his chef. When he told him that he’s there to deliver O’Neal’s latest car, the chef, had a not-so-welcoming reaction for Ahmad. Here’s how the entire conversation went down, have a look:

Chef: “The gray one?”

Ahmad confidently: Yessir!”

And that’s when the world just might have stopped revolving for the dealership’s CEO because the Chef commented: “Oh man, he’s not gonna like this color. It’s the same color as my truck and he doesn’t like it.”

Ahmad pushed: “What are you saying? He literally asked for that color. He wanted an off-gray.“

The chef: “I’m just saying. That’s what he told me. That’s the same color as my truck, he doesn’t like it.” 

Ahmad even went ahead to take a look at the chef’s car and was surprised by the chef’s constant comment on how Shaq would not like the car. That’s when O’Neal appeared in his PJs.

Ahmad: “I told you it was coming through, man. Got your IQ, man. Custom-made, how you wanted it.”

Shaq: “No, that’s the wrong color, bro.

Ahmad: There is no way it’s the wrong color. You said you wanted like a off-gray…

Shaq: I said dark gray

Ahmad, confused at this point: You said dark gray? When we spoke man, you said like an off gray…

Shaq, still acting cold: I sent you the color. That’s too light. I hate that color…No, you’re gonna have to take that back. Got two of them, so I can wait.

And that’s when it got interesting, and umm, funny? Because Shaq took out a magnifying glass out of his PJ pockets to check how the color is not what he wanted, checking the car out closely in the magnified version.

Shaq gave his verdict: That’s too light

Seeing how O’Neal was not breaking his character, Ahmad seriously replied: We gonna take it back. I’m gonna redo the entire car again, and I’m gonna bring it back out here, man. I’m gonna call a transporter, take it back to LA, and we’re gonna make it right. I promise we’re gonna make it right… I promise you we’ll be back with the right color this time.

Since Shaq never gave away that this entire time he was pranking the CEO, Ahmad got into the car to drive away. That’s when he gets a video call from the 4x NBA champion to put an end to it. Not to their relationship, but to the joke.

Shaq: I just wanted to say one thing, Ha Ha Got You… Bring it back. I love it!

Have a look yourself:

Just like that, love for Escalade continues as it’s the third one in his collection. And as for the Tesla Cyberbeasts, looks like Shaq is over them for now because of one reason.

Shaquille O’Neal and his problems with Elon Musk’s Teslas

Before Shaq bought his first ever Cybertruck in September 2024, he actually did not like Tesla. Mentioning the manufacturers he does like, Shaq said, “ And the ones that I hate, you goddamn Teslas. Don’t mess with me.” But fast forward to when he met Effortless Motors, he had a change of heart. But only to last for three Cyberbeast purchases.

The revelation came during the latest Big Podcast with comedy legend Karlous Miller. “I was into the Cyber Trucks, but they don’t get enough, I want to say what’s the word I’m looking for, electric mileage? Yeah, charger mileage.” As per Big Diesel, the EV doesn’t give him enough distance for the amount of energy (in kWh) used to travel that distance. That’s why he switched to a new machine.

“Then I just got one of those IQs system Escalade today, I was in Vegas, I ain’t have to charge up for four days.” Shaquille O’Neal compared the situation with his Cybertruck. “My cyber truck here if I go downtown to work tonight and come back, my gonna be struggling to get back. Right now it says 267 if I go to Atlanta to the thing and come back, when I come back it ain’t going to be…”

After having three of Elon Musk’s Teslas, Shaq has changed his mind. After all, previously too, it’s the same Effortless Motors who did the customization in those vehicles. At one time, the Lakers legend dealt with 8 vehicles to Ahmad Abdelrahman. And now that he has loved the light gray Escalade, it seems more likely that the relationship will continue.