Security Removed 7ft Shaquille O’Neal to Clear Path for Zach Edey & Co. In Footage from Purdue vs NC State

Published 04/08/2024, 7:36 AM EDT

Shaquille O’Neal‘s massive height had been a great advantage on the basketball court by allowing him to easily grab rebounds and block shots. However, he has never complained about his height except once when he wished to be “a little bit smaller.” But, off the court sometimes, it has put him in spots of bother. From getting extra legroom on flights to trouble finding shoes his size, the 51-year-old has dealt with issues most of us haven’t. A similar situation arose during the NCAA Men’s Final Four matchup between the Purdue Boilermakers and NC State.

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After the Boilermakers dispatched the NC State Wolfpack 63-50 to book a spot in their second consecutive National Championship Game, they were on the way back to the locker room only to find the 4x NBA champion blocking their route. In a hilarious clip uploaded by a fan, O’Neal could be seen scampering out of the way as security informs him about the incoming players, leading to a comical effort to help clear the route. Despite his giant-like persona and aura, he did not hesitate to smile heartily, knowing that this was a requirement to ensure operations.

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They had to move Shaq out the way so NC State & Purdue could get off the court 😂 #FinalFour pic.twitter.com/Kcq2hWAsBJ
— K E V I N ⭑⭒⭒⭒⭒ (@KevChestnut) April 7, 2024

While O’Neal was extremely courteous with the proceedings, he must have been happy to see another 7+ ft tall star dominating on the court. For Purdue, their 7’4 tall star Zach Edey is leading the team. He had 20 points and 12 rebounds against NC State and continues to impress the basketball world.

“Wemby’s 7’5, I’m Only 7′1”: Shaquille O’Neal Admits Even Stephen Curry Skills Won’t Make Him Like Spurs Star

Shaq’s “Big Man Alliance” has seen the addition of a couple of new big men on the scene, Victor Wembanyama and Bol Bol. And, being this tall has its share of advantages and disadvantages!

Shaquille O’Neal was piggybacked by one of his ex-girlfriends

Though Shaq’s physique has caused several logistic problems like fitting into the team’s bus and spending for double plane tickets just to have enough legroom, he’s done it all. But he got lucky in something. Usually, a guy would carry his girlfriend around. But, Shaq was lucky to get piggybacked by his then-girlfriend, Nicole Alexander, who was just a little over 5 feet. While appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Nicole was spotted wearing high heels and carrying the Big Shamrock across the stage. The show’s host was dumbstruck by her strength and said, ”

At 7 feet 2 inches, Shaquille O’Neal towers over his 5 foot 2 inch girlfriend Nicole “Hoopz” Alexander. But that didn’t stop Alexander from piggybacking her man across the stage on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”Wow, she is strong,” and asked Shaq jokingly, “Is that something that appeals to you in a woman — someone who can potentially get you out of a fire situation?”

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In 1995, Hobo Master starred in Pepsi’s “Big Slam”, which showcased how it was hard to be big. In 2023, Pepsi celebrated its 125th anniversary, and in the wake of that it launched a series of advertisements under the theme ‘I Wish.’ That’s when Shaq’s ad’s spin-off was made, portraying how Shaq was comically struggling with tasks that are often considered one-size-fits-all. This time instead of promoting the Big Slam soda, he was promoting Pepsi’s mini cans, with the 1995 soundtrack ‘I Wish’ by Skee-Lo. However the lyrics were different, it was changed to ‘I wish I was a little bit smaller’ from ‘I wish I was a little bit taller.’

But Shaq wished he was a little bit smaller for another reason in his life. In an interview with People, Shaq revealed how sports cars need to be customized for him. Diesel said, “They’ve got these Lamborghinis and Ferraris… [and] I used to have to buy two, shrimp them up, spend a crazy amount of money and take the convertible part off to make myself fit. But that’s the only time I’ve wished I was smaller, so I can get into some of these expensive sports cars. Other than that, I’ve never had that thought process.” It was reported that Shaq spent $600,000 on the customizations, to have extra long wheelbase and comfortable seating.

Nevertheless, Shaq has managed to keep his unique style and make an impression. Do you know of any other incident where Shaq’s height was an advantage or disadvantage to him? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Daksh Saini is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports, where his passion for basketball converges with insightful analysis. Daksh specializes in crafting compelling articles that delve into the legacies of NBA legends. His unique perspective, coupled with a deep understanding of the game, allows him to offer readers nuanced commentary and engaging narratives focused on the iconic figures who have shaped the history of professional basketball.

Edited by:

Pragya Vashisth