Basketball

“I Learned Not to Mess With Shaquille O’Neal!”: When Former Lakers Rookie Was Taught a ‘Smelly’ Lesson by 7ft 1″ Diesel

Nithin Joseph
|PublishedDec 20, 2022

I Learned Not to Mess With Shaquille O'Neal!": When Former Lakers Rookie Was Taught a 'Smelly' Lesson by 7ft 1" Diesel

Shaquille O’neal attends F1 at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. Formula One Mlc 00712

Shaquille O’Neal is perhaps the greatest center in NBA history. The man was a dominant force to be reckoned with, both on and off the court.

Having been one of the many faces of the league, a player of Shaq’s caliber can be a little egotistical. To the point where some of the things he did were downright cruel.

Like with the rookie hazing. There were times when Shaq took me too far, as one rookie ended up with the smelliest shoe in the Laker locker room.

Also Read: “That’s Why Shaquille O’Neal is Playing Golf and I’m in the WCF!”: Greg Ostertag Beat His Chest Before Getting Slapped by Big Diesel

Shaquille O’Neal put a rookie’s suit in a locket room filled with smelly shoes

The relationship between veterans and rookies in the NBA is an important one. Primarily because it is the vets who introduce the rookies to life as a superstar.

One of the most important parts of that relationship is rookie hazing. A traditional ritual that can at times go too far. Like with Shaquille O’Neal. In the book Three-Ring Circus, it is revealed that Diesel would sometimes be too cruel with the hazing. For example, the big man once put rookie, Shea Seals’ suit in a dirty locker for refusing to get another veteran’s drink.

“Shea Seals, the rookie from Tulsa, once refused a veteran’s order to fetch him a Gatorade. ‘Rook,’ O’Neal barked, ‘get the drink.’ Seals, a prideful man, shook his head no. ‘Is that how it is?’ O’Neal said, scowling. ‘It is,’ Seals replied. A few hours later, Seals emerged from the shower. Upon returning to his locker, he was surprised to see that his suit had vanished. ‘Rudy,’ he said to Garciduenas, ‘where’d my clothing go?’ He shrugged. Seals did a one-man hunt through the room. ‘Finally,’ he said, ‘Rudy grabs my suit out of the bottom of a dirty locker with a bunch of shoes. It was dirty and wrinkled, and smelled really bad.’ When O’Neal spotted Seals, he said, ‘Do what I say,” and walked off. ‘I learned not to mess with Shaq,’ Seals said. ‘I wasn’t gonna win that one.'”

Cruel is an understatement. Totally unnecessary hazing from Shaq’s end. Especially considering he refused to be hazed as a rookie.

Shaq refused to be hazed by his veterans as a rookie in the Orlando Magic

Despite being a notorious hazer, Shaq himself as a rookie refused to be hazed. He wouldn’t even perform simple tasks like carrying the veterans’ bags. Why? Because he believed he was the star of the Magic and shouldn’t have to do anything.

Quite a hypocritical move from Shaq. But what’s in the past is in the past, he is certainly a much more mature person now.

Also Read: Shaquille O’Neal Shockingly Swears He Would Sweep Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, And Hakeem Olajuwon in a Series

Shaquille O'Neal

About the author

Nithin Joseph

Nithin is a content writer at The SportsRush. Like his favorite athlete Kobe Bryant, the company has helped Nithin elevate his writing skills to a whole new level, especially as an NBA content writer. With over 1500 articles to his name, Nithin's love for the sport knows no bounds. And, as he continues to watch the sport on a daily basis, he hopes his fascination with the NBA, especially the Miami Heat will inspire more and more readers to give the sport a chance. Perhaps, one day making basketball in India as big as it is in the United States.