The Celtics-Knicks showdown from a few days ago gave the internet its latest meme obsession of the season. Though Boston suffered a 105–95 loss at Madison Square Garden, with Jaylen Brown putting up 23 points, three assists, and four rebounds, the online buzz wasn’t about the scoreboard; it was about something that left its mark on OG Anunoby’s white jersey. And of course, Shaqtin’ a Fool couldn’t resist joining the fun while the internet lit up over it.

The Hall of Famer shared the now-infamous clip of Jaylen Brown’s hairline spray rubbing off on Anunoby’s jersey, adding his signature humor to the situation. “Oh Jaylen Brown. I see you, Shaqtin’ a fool. Did you just come from Beijing?” Shaq joked.

From Shaq’s playful comment, we can only speculate that he was hinting at Brown possibly using Bigen, a jet-black dye often brushed onto the scalp to mask thinning areas or signs of hair loss. Gilbert Arenas also suggested something similar on Threads: “Jaylen Brown musta just got that Beijing (or Bigen) done before the game 🤣🤣🤣”

Earlier this year, Jaylen Brown took to Instagram to show off his new haircut: a short, tidy style with a sharply defined hairline. The main change was that he got rid of his braids, but fans were quick to notice and joke, writing, “Balding at 25.” While it drew laughs online, it’s not unusual for many NBA players to use various cosmetic products to manage their hair. Still, Brown found himself in the spotlight, becoming the unexpected target of the internet’s playful teasing.

Maybe the Celt could take a page from Carlos Boozer’s book…

Back in 2012, the former Bulls power forward made headlines for a rather unusual hair experiment: instead of embracing baldness, he decided to dye all his hair (his entire scalp) black. The experiment didn’t go unnoticed. Oh, definitely not.

Boozer later appeared on ESPN’s Highly Questionable to share the story and explain what had driven him to take such a bold step. He admitted that even after washing his hair at least seven times, the dye stubbornly refused to come out! Naturally, the internet had a field day, turning Boozer’s hair saga into a moment of endless jokes and memes.

But Shaq isn’t any different. He might be laughing at Brown for now, but Dwyane Wade once gave the internet a chance to laugh at Big Diesel too.

When Shaq let his hair grow… for a bet

Back in 2020, Shaq found himself in a hilarious predicament, all thanks to a friendly bet with his former NBA teammate D-Wade. The wager was simple: Big Diesel bet that the Milwaukee Bucks would beat Wade’s Miami Heat, and when that didn’t happen, he had to pay up in the most public way possible. On the TNT pregame show before the Celtics-Nets game, Shaq debuted a new hairline, letting his natural hair grow out, something fans hadn’t seen in years.

“I said, ‘Well, what do you want me to do? Pay you?’” Shaq told his co-hosts. “He said, ‘Nah, you gotta let your hairline grow. We wanna see your hairline looking like Kenny Smith.’” For context, Kenny Smith, also on TNT, has been roasted plenty of times for his hairline, so Shaq knew he was in for some laughs.

And the internet did not disappoint. One fan even quipped, “Hairline in 1 mile,” while Rex Chapman captured the absurdity perfectly: “This is what it’s like playing pro sports. Traveling the globe with a bunch of overgrown 5th graders — all with pockets full of money. Best s— ever.”

D-Wade honed his creativity further, even sketching Shaq with hair on his head. The snapshot of the same went instantly viral.

Despite the teasing, however, Shaq owned it. “I look good, and I’m proud to do it,” he said in the clip. “And I’m gonna keep it like this all week!” Shaq has always had a playful side, whether joking about his baldness or encouraging fans to “Embrace your baldness” on Instagram.

He even poked fun at himself in 2023, admitting he was jealous of his son Myles O’Neal’s thick, enviable hair. “He has something he’s never had,” Shaq said, proving even a legend can marvel at a little hair envy.

Of course, with a net worth of $500 million, Shaq could probably do a lot to try and get his hair back, but he’s made peace with it.