Shaquille O'Neal has jokingly requested a $50 million check from the Los Angeles Lakers, following a comment involving his legendary former teammates, Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson.
O'Neal had a glorious career in the NBA, winning four championships, three of which with the Los Angeles Lakers during the club's golden years in the early 2000s.
After his departure, the Lakers continued to dominate under Bryant's leadership, winning consecutive titles in 2009 and 2010.
Recently, the Lakers were sold to TWG Global CEO Mark Walter for a staggering $10 billion, a figure that could increase after the deal is finalized.
In a recent episode of his podcast The Big Podcast, featuring comedian Bill Bellamy, Shaq commented on the sale:
“The Lakers were sold for $10 billion… and I got nothing, dude.”
Bellamy replied humorously:
“They gave you a 'thank you for your service,' Shaquille.”
Shaq then jokingly mentioned Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson, saying:
"It was me, Magic and Kobe. Can I get something? A check for, let's say, $50 million?"
Although the comment was meant in a humorous tone, his request went viral. In reality, the 53-year-old is not entitled to benefit from the sale, as he never owned shares in the club.
Magic Johnson, on the other hand, once owned a portion of the Lakers' stock, but sold it in 2010.
However, Shaquille O'Neal doesn't need such a check. He has earned an estimated $286 million in NBA salaries during a 19-year career that included teams like the Miami Heat (with whom he won another championship) and the Boston Celtics.
Furthermore, his earnings have multiplied through advertising, businesses, and media engagements, making him one of the richest and most successful former athletes in the business world./Express newspaper/
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