Shaquille O’Neal has never been shy about his quirks. But it seems he draws the line at sharing everything with the world. The 15x All-Star, known for his larger-than-life personality, had a moment of protest when Anthony C. Hall tried to capture one of Shaq’s insecurities for social media. The lighthearted incident, involving Shaq’s self-described “ugly, stinky feet,” unfolded in an Instagram video shared by Hall.

The video began with Hall approaching O’Neal, eventually revealing the ex-NBA star’s toes adorned with blue nail paint. The 4x NBA champ’s reaction was immediate and humorous. “Hey, man, don’t post that sh*t,” he said, playfully chasing Hall away. This reaction was no surprise to fans who know ex-LA Lakers star’s long-standing discomfort with his feet.

During an episode of The Big Podcast, Shaquille O’Neal didn’t hold back about why he invests in his feet. “I give about $1,000 because I know my feet stink, I know they’re ugly, and I like to paint them,” he admitted. And when he says paint, he means going all out. Sparkles, designs, you name it—Big Diesel’s toenails are a canvas for creativity. “I paint that sh*t because it’s ugly and I want it to look pretty,” he explained.

But where did this idea even come from, you ask? It wasn’t a stylist or a teammate, but his mom, Lucille O’Neal. Shaq shared a story that takes us back to his playing days. “True story—one time I had a toenail that was torn off, and I wasn’t going to play in the game,” he said. That, however, didn’t sit well with Lucille, who took matters into her own hands.

“She did something and then she put, like, some red polish on the thing, and I had 40 that game,” he revealed. Turns out, that game became a turning point. “So I was like, you know what, I’m just going to start painting my toenails.” Seemingly, the reason that Anthony Hall somewhat trolled O’Neal with his caption “pretty boy” to his IG post. Still, however, not the most impressive nickname the 5x NBA champ has received recently.

Shaquille O’Neal compared to a Halley’s Comet

O’Neal’s dominance on the basketball court is undeniable, but why does he often get left out of GOAT debates? It’s a question that even Shaq himself has wrestled with. NFL legend Shannon Sharpe recently weighed in on the topic during Nightcap, offering both praise and critique for the big man.

Sharpe didn’t hold back on his admiration, calling Shaq “unbelievable” and comparing him to “Halley’s Comet” — a once-in-a-lifetime event, representing the rarest of rare. And that’s exactly how Sharpe sees Shaq. Standing at 7-foot-1 and 325 pounds, O’Neal wasn’t just big, he was a blend of size, speed, and agility, with a 32-inch vertical.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Sharpe believes Shaq’s inability to stay in top shape held him back from reaching his ultimate potential. “I just wish Shaq would have taken it seriously,” he said. Can you imagine if the 15x All Star had stayed in peak condition for a decade?

The GOAT debate might look a lot different. Even Kobe Bryant shared similar frustrations during their time together, often calling out Shaq’s work ethic. But considering these are all things of past, Shaq can now focus on enjoying his retirement life in his “pretty boy” form.