Shaquille O’Neal says he’s 75% sure he’s moving to Texas full time. The NBA legend opened up about life in Dallas, his business ventures, and the Mavs’ future.
IRVING, Texas — NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is no stranger to the Lone Star State. He spent part of his childhood in San Antonio, has deep business ties across Texas, and now owns a home in North Texas.
But during a recent sit-down with WFAA, the Hall of Famer and media mogul made it clear: He’s strongly leaning toward calling Texas home for good.
“I’m 75% gonna move here full time,” Shaq said. “I have to see what’s going on with TNT next year, but based upon that, you’ll probably be seeing a lot more of me.”
Shaq says he has been coming in and out of Dallas for more than 30 years, but has felt especially at home since planting roots in the area.
“People in Dallas have been very nice,” he said. “I know about the Texas culture, but Dallas has been good to me.”
The layout of the Metroplex is also a big draw for Shaq.
“What I like about Dallas is it’s a bunch of mini-Dallases,” he said. “Legacy West, Frisco, Plano, Carrollton, Rockwall, where I live at. Fun place to be.”
Shaq’s presence in Texas isn’t just personal — it’s business. His latest venture is with BeatBox, a Texas-based ready-to-drink cocktail company that currently features Shaq on the main page of its website. The partnership started with a call from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who encouraged Shaq to meet the founders.
“Mark Cuban gave me a call one day,” Shaq said. “He said, ‘You DJ a lot. Have you seen the little Capri Sun-looking things they’re passing around?’ I said yeah, and he said, ‘That’s a friend of mine’s company.’”
Shaq quickly got on board, not just because of the product, but because of the people behind it.
“They didn’t need me,” he said. “They said, ‘Hey man, we’d love to have you on the team.’ That’s the type of team I wanted to be on.”
Now, he has his own exclusive BeatBox flavor and is helping grow the brand nationally.
“It’s not about a money pledge,” he said. “It’s about being with some young, enthusiastic guys. We’re just having fun and making kids happy.”
Shaq’s ties to North Texas extend beyond BeatBox. He recently visited 7-Eleven’s corporate headquarters in Irving, a brand he’s long supported and even joked about during the interview.
“I said at my retirement ceremony, when I met Yao Ming, he reminded me of my favorite convenience store, 7-Eleven. Yao told me he was 7-5. I said, ‘No bro, you’re 7-Eleven.’”
He’s also keeping a close eye on the local NBA franchise. With top prospect Cooper Flagg expected to join the Mavs, Shaq had some words of advice for the incoming rookie.
“Just take this time,” Shaq said. “The good thing about the NBA and our culture and Texas culture, they’re gonna give you room to breathe. First year, we wanna see what you do. Second year, we’re gonna be expecting something. After that, no more excuses.”
Shaq believes Flagg is entering a strong situation, especially with a first-class organization like the Mavs.
“They’re going to treat him right, they’re going to teach him what he needs to know,” he said. “I look forward to watching him play.”
As for the team’s chances next season, especially with Kyrie Irving expected to return from injury midseason and other star pieces in place, Shaq says a lot has to happen between now and then — but he’s optimistic.
“It always looks good on paper,” he said. “But they gotta play well from October to February to even have a shot. If you look at it on paper — Cooper, Kyrie, AD, and all the other guys — they’re definitely going to be in the playoffs.”
Professionally, Shaq is preparing for a big move from TNT to ESPN and ABC, news that made waves across the sports broadcasting world. But he says the core of Inside the NBA will stay intact.
“In order for us to be remembered and not forgotten, we have to remain the same but get better,” he said. “What makes us who we are is validation, G14 classification, and the humor.”
That humor was on full display when he talked about his long-running on-air rivalry with Charles Barkley.
“If Chuck was here right now, I’d punch him in his face,” Shaq joked, adding that he’d let his good friend Officer Hall arrest him, and he would be out “on my own recognizance in five minutes.”
But behind the jokes, Shaq said there is a deep brotherhood with his co-host.
“I never had a big brother, but I am a big brother,” he said. “Charles is like my big brother. We go through our stuff, but he’s a wonderful human being, and our moms were best friends for 15 years.”
With business booming and life in Texas suiting him well, the NBA legend appears ready to make North Texas home. All that remains is what happens next with his TV schedule.
“Based on that, you’ll probably be seeing a lot more of me,” he said.