Shaquille O’Neal surely knows a thing or two about broadcasting jobs and the pressure. He debuted with TNT in 2011, and now he is one of the most well-known analysts. Not to mention, he earns more from his broadcasting than he did during his playing days. So, when he saw his favorite person, Tom Brady, struggle with his broadcasting debut, Shaq opened up about his own challenges to offer some wisdom to the NFL legend.

Brady’s Fox broadcast debut as an NFL analyst was expected to garner significant attention, and it did. Though not in the way he must have had hoped; fans noted that Brady appeared awkward and somewhat uncomfortable on the show. During his podcast, O’Neal suggested that the NFL icon should simply be himself while broadcasting. “ Just be yourself. And that’s when I really, really started to blossom,” Shaq suggested. Reflecting on his own experience, the Lakers legend admitted he initially wanted to emulate Ernie Johnson and Adam Lefkoe.

Eventually, he realized that being true to himself was the key to his success after a talk with TK, who was probably Tim Kiely, the former producer of the show. “Yeah, because when I came in, I wanted to be as professional as you and Ernie. I was really calling myself Shaq Gumbel. But then TK was like, f*** that,” Shaq confessed. And just like any other rookie, O’Neal, who initially faced issues, is now one of the most successful TNT analysts.

Brady called the Dallas Cowboys game against the Cleveland Browns, where the Cowboys emerged victorious with a score of 33-17. Reactions were mixed, with many critiquing the NFL legend, though he had supporters like the Los Angeles Lakers legend.

Shaquille O’Neal was upset with Tom Brady’s retirement 

Back in 2022, the 7X Super Bowl champion announced his retirement, which was a heartbreaker for fans, including O’Neal. He took to social media to express his frustration and requested Brady to play for “one more year.” Many fans shared this sentiment, hoping the veteran would continue his career. When the Los Angeles Lakers legend was asked about Brady’s seemingly awkward debut, he couldn’t resist offering some motivational support.

Luckily, despite considerable criticism from fans regarding his performance and especially his odd interaction with Mike Pereira, the NFL legend responded positively. While describing his debut as “fun,” he acknowledged the need for improvement. Furthermore, he is excited about the upcoming game, where the Dallas Cowboys will clash with the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. And so are we!

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.