DALLAS, TEXAS: Shaquille O'Neal is an icon, known for his illustrious career in basketball. He is one among only three players, who have been honored with NBA MVP, All-Star Game MVP, and Finals MVP awards in a single year, which was 2000. The 51-year-old, who retired in 2011, is also the recipient of the 1999–2000 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award and the 1992–93 NBA Rookie of the Year award.
But O'Neal’s career is not only larger than life, his overall personality is also towering. As per his website, his height is 7 ft 1 inch ( 215 cm). The site also mentions his weight as 325 pounds and adds that “due to his ability to dunk the basketball, O'Neal also ranks 3rd all-time in field goal percentage (58.2%). Shaquille O'Neal's off-court accolades rival his athletic accomplishments, having found success in acting, music, television, and gaming. Currently, Shaq is an analyst on Inside The NBA.”
How tall is Shaquille O'Neal?
Though everywhere it's written that O'Neal is 7 ft 1 inch tall, he once reportedly claimed that it’s not true. The certified NBA giant once disclosed on 'The Big Podcast with Shaq', “First of all, I’m not 7’1″. I’m 6’11”. I just played like I was 7’1″. And 7 foot 1 just sounded, you know, just so, you know.”
But even George Clooney was once stunned to see his tall figure. O'Neal reportedly went to the set of the TV series 'E.R.' when the Hollywood actor saw him and was gobsmacked by the tall figure. According to correspondent Nischelle Turner, at the set of the show, there was a person who was 6'9'' but when O'Neal visited, that tall person was looking smaller in front of him. Witnessing that scene, Clooney apparently reacted, "Who the heck is here that’s a giant?"
Is Giannis Antetokounmpo taller than Shaquille O'Neal ?
O'Neal’s revelation about his actual height came after Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo claimed that he was taller than the veteran player. But according to Richard Jefferson, a former NBA player, there shouldn’t be any comparison between O'Neal and Antetokounmpo in any aspect. “There’s no other player that I can think of in recent history that has that type of strength and power. He changed the f*****g equipment, backboards were getting broken,” Jefferson reportedly asserted.
He also added, “Giannis is the same type of dominance when you see percentage around the rim because there was a size and a f*****g mass to Shaq that was different. He was like Embiid, but he moved like Giannis.”
The 28-year-old Greek-Nigerian basketball player is reportedly not among O’Neal’s all-time top-five list. He said, “Giannis is the man... I don't have him in my top five, but I'm not discrediting him. He's one of my favorite players he's a great player.”
However, O’Neal reportedly gave Giannis the nickname “Superman” and added, “You know I gave him the title Superman because how he plays because what he does, he plays hard, and it's all about him. It's all about his team.”
What is Shaquille O'Neal's shoe size?
In O'Neal's own words, even gorillas are surprised to see his height. "Every zoo in the world, they go mad. They try to break out the damn thing and try to fight me," he reportedly said in an episode of 'The Big Podcast with Shaq'.
Zoo Miami’s communications director Ron Magill apparently agreed with him and added, "The male gets intimidated, and he looks at Shaq and thinks that Shaq’s gonna take away his girls, and he gets tightlipped and tries to stand up and make himself look as big as possible. But at the end of the day, he backs off. He knows who’s boss."
Besides, it has been said that O’Neal’s shoe size is 22, which like his height is gigantic. While growing up, he used to face issues in finding the right shoe for him and now he helps children who face the same problem. "I’m gonna take care of the kid today because somebody did it for me. I’m doing it for the kid…That should last him for a long time," he added.
