Shaquille O’Neal joining former NBA rival as GM of college basketball team

Shaquille O’Neal will wear the general manager hat soon. Except he’s joining a former bitter rival of his during his NBA career at Sacramento State.

The four-time NBA champion is heading back to college. This time joining the Sacramento State staff in a GM role, with Shams Charania of ESPN confirming the move Monday evening. O’Neal’s son Shaqir is committed to the Hornets.

Ironically, the Hornets will soon be coached by Mike Bibby. The same Bibby who engaged in epic battles with O’Neal’s Los Angeles Lakers in the early 2000s.

Bibby was a sharpshooter for the Sacramento Kings teams during that era. He’s best remembered for taking the Lakers to the limit in the 2002 Western Conference Finals. Now he’s hired O’Neal to a fast-growing role across college sports.

O’Neal will likely become active in the college basketball transfer portal. He’ll help recruit talent for Bibby’s Hornets team.