Shaq-A-Claus puts the joy in the season of joy. But the humble giant prefers to take a backseat when it comes to himself. Shaquille O’Neal has a stringent rule for the holidays – he doesn’t allow anyone to indulge him. It’s surprising since he’s a party extraordinaire and has always turned the holidays extra special with something kind. But he doesn’t want the gesture to be returned.

While on The Rich Eisen Show, Shaq explained his Christmas policy. And if anyone wants to break his rule, he poses a challenge to explain his reasons.

Shaquille O’Neal owns the Santa Claus persona

Shaq-A-Claus is O’Neal’s event to give presents to underprivileged families during the Christmas season. That’s the only celebration he has for the season. “I don’t celebrate Christmas.” Before you think he’s a Grinch, O’Neal says, “Let me rephrase that. I tell my kids and my friends don’t get me a gift because if you show me a movie where Santa receives the gifts then I receive the gift.” 

O’Neal indeed has spent the past 20+ years hosting the ‘Shaq-A-Claus’ among many holiday events and doing spontaneous acts of kindness. He loves being Santa in this season and we know that guy in the North Pole doesn’t accept gifts either.

He dons a Santa hat and gives out presents. Sometimes he treats families to meals on Thanksgiving or other holidays. Recently, he also revealed that he doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving and instead enjoys a day of feeding the homeless.

This year, the students at Wesley Lakes Elementary School in Atlanta arrived at a Winter Wonderland on December 14. 750 kids received toys, clothes, haircuts, pizza, and prizes at the Shaq-A-Claus event.

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The charity event has been his annual Christmas tradition for 22 years, almost as many years as he’s not accepted presents for himself. Shaq-A-Claus originated from his bighearted parents. And they have the honor of giving the one present O’Neal loves.

Shaq’s favorite Christmas present

While his mother accidentally started O’Neal’s annual tradition of giving gifts to school-full of kids, the spirit came from his (step)father, Phillip Harrison. He instilled in Shaq that he should always provide and giving is better than receiving.

He didn’t receive many gifts in his childhood owing to their tough financial circumstances. Until one day, Harrison surprised him with a signed Dr. J basketball. Shaq has always said Julius Erving is the reason he became an NBA player.

This was not only a memorable gift for him, he learned that nothing is better than making a child’s Christmas brighter. So, unless Santa Claus and the kids switch roles, Shaq-A-Claus is going to thrive.

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