Shaquille O'Neal Takes Unexpected New Role Amid NBA Playoffs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Joshua Rosenblum | Last updated Apr 28, 2025 9:11 PM ET

In a wild announcement released amidst the 2025 NBA Playoffs, basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal has agreed to take on a new role that has left fans buzzing.

On Monday night, Shams Charania of ESPN broke the news on X that Shaq has agreed to become the men’s basketball general manager at Sacramento State University—a voluntary position that marks a fresh chapter for the four-time NBA champion.

Shaq's connection to Sacramento State is personal: his son, Shaqir O'Neal, just transferred to play for the Hornets under head coach Mike Bibby, a former Sacramento Kings star.

The pairing of O'Neal and Bibby, who famously clashed during the heated Sacramento Kings-Los Angeles Lakers rivalry of the early 2000s, now promises to be a dynamic duo off the court.

Together, they aim to elevate the program, which struggled with a 7-25 record last season, into a Big Sky Conference contender.

O'Neal is no stranger to winning himself and will have some extra incentive to win considering his son will be playing for the team.

O'Neal’s history with Sacramento, being a minority owner of the Kings from 2013 to 2022, adds another layer of intrigue to his decision.

As O'Neal balances his role with TNT's "Inside the NBA" with his new general manager position, his boisterous personality will continue to captivate the basketball world for years to come.

For a program that hasn't seen a season above .500 in five years, the hiring of O'Neal is an exceptional one and has the potential to completely turn things around for the Hornets.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: