The hits keep on coming for Sacramento State. First was the signing of Mike Bibby as the HC following the previous disastrous season, 7-25 under interim coach Michael Czepil. His first signing, Shaqir O’Neal, son of the Lakers legend. Soon after, Shaquille O’Neal volunteered to serve as the program’s general manager. This not only means he will be closer to his son but also work with one-time NBA rival Bibby. But for the betterment of the program, both of them left those rivalries far behind and earned the trust of one of the former high school phenoms.

Mikey Williams committed to Sacramento State, who played last season at Central Florida. Speaking about his move, the 20-year-old detailed that at first the move didn’t seem possible. “Honestly, it wasn’t right away, it probably took about a little over a week. Because he (Coach Bibby) didn’t think that he had enough money for me to come.” With the rise of NIL values, the financial factor is important for some students. But it wasn’t for Williams.

“I told him, like it’s not even about the money right now, you feel me. I just want to be in a good situation, so we really made it work.” Over 1,000 student‑athletes jumped into the transfer portal on Day 1. But choosing Sacramento State was a conscious choice from the 6-foot-3 guard. It was Mike Bibby who reached out first and set the record straight with financial issues. “When he talked to me, he already told me like ‘We don’t got a lot of money with her or whatever.‘” The financial crunch at Sacramento State is true.

As per the Sacramento Bee, the university faces a $37 million deficit, which is why it scrapped the college consolidation plan. However, with an average of 5.1 points in 14 minutes per game over 18 games last season, Williams had to prove a point this season. “I’m like, ‘Look, coach, I’m trying to hoop, you feel me? I don’t really I ain’t really worried about that (money), like I’m just trying to feel me do what I can do.”

Signing with coach Bibby had another advantage in comparison to other programs. “Like he already kept it hundred. Ain’t no politics going on if you not getting the game, you’re not playing, this on you.” That’s why Williams transferred out of UCF to play under the tutelage of Bibby and Shaq.

How can Shaquille O’Neal’s addition help the Hornets with Coach Bibby’s help?

The acceptance of a voluntary GM role from a renowned NBA player is not new. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young are prominent NBA figures to take on a general manager role at the college level. Yes, both Curry and Young accepted assistant general manager roles at their alma maters, Davidson and Oklahoma, respectively.

So, will Shaquille O’Neal’s signing with Sac State over LSU be the right fit? As per the athletic director, it is. Mark Orr spoke about this on Fox40 News and gave credit to Mike Bibby for getting the Lakers legend on board. “Yeah, I think first, it’s quite frankly, it’s Mike Bibby. Coach Bibby’s had a long-time relationship with Shaquille, and we’re fortunate to be able to capitalize on that,” said Orr. He also called O’Neal “a great role model.” Not only because of his winning resume on the court, but also due to his off-court success.

According to KTVU Fox 2, Shaq will focus on recruitment, marketing, and holistic player development—on and off the court—leveraging his Hall‑of‑Fame stature and Sacramento ties to attract top talent and elevate the Hornets’ brand. The station’s report notes that O’Neal “will serve in a volunteer capacity, waived salary, and partner with Coach Bibby to reshape the program’s culture.”

Shaq promises to reshape the Hornets’ culture and recruiting. It’s not just Williams who wants to prove a point. Even Shaquille O’Neal’s son, Shaqir, wants to leave a better impression than last year’s. He started 17 games, went on to play 17.1 minutes, and averaged 6.7 points per game. So the experience of Bibby and the influence of O’Neal is what Sacramento State needs after the 7-25 season.