Shaq lands interesting new basketball management job

Mr. O’Neal is headed (back) to Sacramento.

Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Monday that retired Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal has agreed to become the general manager of Sacramento State’s men’s basketball team. Charania adds that it will be a voluntary role for O’Neal.

The move comes as O’Neal’s son Shaqir recently announced that he was transferring to Sacramento State. Shaqir, a 22-year-old forward, entered the transfer portal in March after playing last season for Florida A&M.

Sacramento State is now coached by one of O’Neal’s old NBA enemies from way back in his playing days. But the hatchet has clearly been buried now that Shaqir is coming to play at Sacramento State and The Big Aristotle himself is arriving to take over in the Hornets’ front office.

Now 53 years old, the 15-time NBA All-Star big man O’Neal does not have any front office experience to speak of. But he has had a very successful post-playing career as a businessman, investing in countless successful ownership ventures. O’Neal also has some recent history in the Sacramento area as he was previously a minority owner of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings from 2013-22.

Sacramento State will need all the help that they can get next season after finishing last season at a horrid 7-25 (.219). The Hornets have not had a winning season since 2019-20 and are now on their fifth head coach in the last four years. But at least there will be a lot more star power in charge at Sacramento State going forward from here.