Years after Thirsting for Halle Berry, Shaquille O’Neal Revealed Embarrassing ‘Elevator Story’ to Russell Wilson

When the NBA superstar was young, he had a way with pretty ladies. Shaquille O’Neal, along with being an iconic player for the Los Angeles Lakers, was also famous among celebrities. But to get to that status, he had to work hard on himself. Big Aristotle dreamed of being a rich man who had it all in his future. He wanted a beautiful wife and a fabulous house. His dreamy demeanor thus made him fall in love with the elegant actress, Halle Berry.

The ‘Catwoman’ actress is one of the most gorgeous-looking women in Hollywood. Everybody is in love with her charming ways and kind nature. Even Disele admired her irresistible beauty. Therefore, during his college days, when the then-LSU hooper was watching ‘Jungle Fever,’ he decided to pen a lovely letter to his favorite actress. Fortunately, Shaq received a reply from Berry and then made it his mission to meet the Academy Award-winning actress.

Shaquille O’Neal met the woman of his dreams but fumbled as soon as he saw her

Berry sent a signed picture of herself along with her reply. In her reply, she wished him good luck in becoming a successful NBA player. Maybe it was her good wishes that helped the four-time NBA champ become the best player!

Needless to say, the former Miami Heat hoopster hoped to meet the first runner-up of the Miss USA pageant. However, when he finally met her, he embarrassed himself. Shaq appeared in Russell Wilson‘s podcast ‘DangerTalk’ two years ago. There, he explained his failed attempt at trying to make a conversation with the 56-year-old actress.

“I remember one time I was at the Four Seasons Hotel in the elevator by myself and Halle Berry came into the elevator and, like, my stuttering kicked in because I used to stutter when I was young.” 

As soon as the NBA MVP winner opened his mouth to talk to Berry, he started stuttering. Time ran out, so she left the elevator. He expressed his distress over not getting to speak to the lovely actress. The NBA star had once accepted that “She’s the only woman that makes my stuttering come back.”

Shaq brought his A-game when he noticed Berry in the audience

Before the embarrassing incident happened, he spotted Berry sitting amongst the audience at a game between the Lakers and the New York Knicks in 2000. He was taken aback as soon as he noticed her. While explaining what it was like to play in front of celebrities, he recounted how he really felt when he saw her.

He was shaken up when he saw Berry walking down the stairs while he was at the free-throw line. “My heart started fluttering, I get nervous, I call a time out,” he said. “Coach said, ‘What are you doing?!’ I said, ‘Shut up, Halle Berry is here to watch me. Nobody shoots, make sure I get the ball.’ And guess what, I actually made the free throw. I made the free throw, I was looking at Halle like [winks].”

This anecdote is another example of how Berry inspired him to play well.