Shaquille O’Neal has always been known for his larger-than-life presence, both on the basketball court and off of it. Towering at 7-foot-1 with a powerful build, many assumed his dominance came solely from his physical gifts. But according to O’Neal himself, there was more finesse behind the force than people realized.
In a recent episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq, the Hall-of-Famer revealed that ballet training played a key role in his success during the Lakers‘ championship run with Kobe Bryant. When asked how much credit ballet deserves for the Lakers‘ three-peat from 2000 to 2002, Shaq didn’t hesitate. “All of them,” he said.
A surprising secret weapon
While his early career was clouded by criticism around his conditioning and work ethic, particularly from co-star Kobe Bryant, O’Neal eventually found unconventional ways to improve his game. One of those methods, surprisingly, was studying ballet.
Though he didn’t share many details, Shaq admitted he used to watch ballet routines to understand movement techniques, particularly pirouettes. That knowledge, he said, helped refine his spin move in the paint, one of his most lethal weapons.
His co-host, Adam Lefkoe, tried to get more out of him, but Shaq kept it brief, clearly a bit shy about the revelation. Still, the idea of the NBA’s most dominant center drawing inspiration from classical dance says a lot about his willingness to evolve and improve-even if it meant stepping outside his comfort zone.
Dancing through his career
O’Neal’s love for dance isn’t new. Throughout his NBA career, he never missed an opportunity to show off his moves. One of the most memorable examples came during the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix, where he performed alongside the Jabbawockeez during player introductions, a moment that still lives rent-free in fans’ memories.
From ballroom to breakdancing, Shaq has never shied away from the spotlight. But it’s the quiet influence of ballet, he now says, that helped him perform his best when the stakes were highest.
Turns out, it wasn’t just Kobe’s killer mentality or Shaq’s strength that brought the titles to L.A.it was also the pirouette.
Read the full article here
