“Was Shaq Drinking Hennessy”: 2 Months After ‘Being Caught on TV’, Shaquille O’Neal Discloses ‘Contents of His Cup’ to 1,200,000 Followers

Shaquille O’Neal, who has been an NBA analyst for Turner Sport for almost 12 years now, is one of the funniest broadcasters in the business. Similar to the past few years, the Los Angeles Lakers legend provided us with some hilarious moments during the 2022-2023 season. One such incident took place on the NBA on TNT set 2 months ago, during the Golden State Warriors-Sacramento Kings playoffs battle. While Ernie Johnson Jr. and Charles Barkley went back and forth discussing some instances from the postseason, a video caught Shaq’s abnormal reaction after sipping something out of his cup. Many fans believed that O’Neal probably sipped on Hennessy on live TV. But coming clean to his 1,200,000 followers on Threads, the Big Aristotle revealed what he actually drank.

On the April 26, 2023, episode of Inside the NBA, the panel briefly discussed Stephen Curry and co.’s Game 5 win from the first-round clash. At one point during the episode, just before a commercial break, a fan caught Shaq’s hilarious reaction after sipping out of a steel cup. The reaction got everyone curious as to what was inside the cup. Fans speculated that the NBA legend drank alcohol, but Shaq would restate the rumors two months after the incident.

Shaquille O’Neal discloses the contents of his cup on Threads

Instagram account dc.tyce recently posted a reel from the same Inside the NBA episode, capturing Shaq’s suspicious reaction after sipping from the cup. The video’s caption accused the Lakers legend of drinking either Hennessy or Casamigos, “What was @shaq drinking @hennessy or @casamigos @theshaderoom @nbaontnt.”

On that very reel, the Hall-Of-Famer made it clear that it wasn’t alcohol that he was drinking. His comment on the thread stated that he took a sip of ‘hot tea’. Shaq even made use of Threads to make himself pretty clear. Revealing it to his 1.2 million followers, the NBA legend posted:

it was a one hot tea lol

Post by @shaq

View on Threads

Judging by the reaction, it does seem like Shaq took a huge gulp of some really hot tea.

Shaq doesn’t drink alcohol in public

Despite being a practicing Muslim, O’Neal has admitted to drinking alcohol from time to time. But the Diesel has a strict policy of not drinking in public. No, there aren’t any religious sentiments attached to this. He merely doesn’t want to tarnish his mother’s reputation. Take a look at “Superman’s” explanation in @shannonsharpeee’s tweet.

“I do drink, but not in public because I can’t do nothing to jeopardize my mother’s empire..so If I’m at the house I’ll drink, but I’m not going to drink at a restaurant and jump in a car and then..cos my father always used to tell me, if you mess the money up, your mama ain’t going to have no house, if you mess the money up, your mama ain’t going to eat.”

It’s heartwarming to see Shaq trying to protect his parents’ legacies.