Shaquille O’Neal has never been one to hold back. In a recent podcast appearance, the NBA legend opened up about a side of his career that most fans never saw.
On the “Armchair Expert” podcast, the four-time NBA champion talked about playing through injuries with the help of pain pills. He explained that while he did not feel a buzz, he later realized that dependency can take different forms.
“I didn’t know that was addiction,” Shaq said. “I didn’t think I was suffering mentally. But if I felt a little pain, I would take it because we needed this game.”
He admitted to doing “homeboy math” with medication — if the label said take one, he would take three. Trainers knew about it, but it was not something he shared with family or friends. For 19 years, anti-inflammatories were part of his regular season routine. Off-season, he would not take them.
These days, Shaq’s habits have shifted. Instead of nights out and club appearances, he finds balance in hookah bars, which help him slow down. The change came after what he describes as losing his family by being out too much, leading him to place a lifetime ban on himself from strip clubs.
“If you see me in a club now, it is because I am DJing,” he said. “I still go out, but I do it differently.”
Shaq shares four children with his ex-wife, Shaunie Henderson, and remains a father figure to Henderson’s son Myles. The couple married in 2002, separated in 2009 and finalized their divorce in 2011.
Unbiased Opinion:
Shaquille O’Neal’s willingness to discuss his health choices and personal boundaries gives fans a rare look beyond the court. Some may view his pain pill use as a sign of the intense physical demands of professional sports. Others may see his self-imposed lifestyle changes as a sign of maturity and self-awareness. Either way, it shows that even larger-than-life athletes face challenges that require real change.
