feature-image

Getty

feature-image

Getty

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.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

So much so, that the 7-footer even made a promise to return. What led to O’Neal’s delay? Let’s find out.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

article-image

Getty

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.”?

ADVERTISEMENT

Read More: ?I Think It?s Time?: Amid Shaquille O?Neal Awaited Return to Orlando, Viral Lost Lands Clip Forces DJ Diesel to Drop Massive Collab Hint

The idea was so appealing to the 351-pounder that he had to delay his flight and make a promise to return.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

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.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT

Watch This Story: Shaquille O’Neal’s Near-Death Equestrian Saga With A Vengeful Horse

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Priyanshu

827 Articles

Priyanshu is an NBA beat Writer at EssentiallySports, with a healthy command over the technical aspects of the sport. Priyanshu has creatively covered the often entertaining interactions between legends Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley along with in-depth analysis of the games. He was at the forefront of the 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony, covering each and every aspect of the historic night in Springfield, Massachusetts. Furthermore, his article on Shaq and the UFC garnered close to a million pageviews. Moving away from the world of sports, Priyanshu is also an avid gamer, who can display other-worldly skills on NBA 2K.

Know more

Edited by

editor-image

Aakash Nair

ADVERTISEMENT