As the NBA made its way to the Middle East for the first time, all the stars were out in force.
The reigning champions the Milwaukee Bucks, led by superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, were in town along with Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks. Throw in legends such as Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, Dominique Wilkins and Isaiah Thomas and there was no shortage of star power.
But wherever the NBA went, there was one unmissable presence everyone wanted to see - Shaquille O’Neal. The 7ft1 giant was ambassador for the 2022 NBA Abu Dhabi Games and was welcomed with open arms.
On the court, O'Neal was undoubtedly one of the most iconic players the league has ever seen. He was a feared competitor who became a 15-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion during his glittering career.
But, nowadays, he is just as well-known as an engaging and unique personality off the court. O'Neal is an unmissable presence wherever he goes but also a gentle giant that is a much-loved figure around the world.
“I like to have a good time, I like to make people smile and I like encouraging people, that’s all,” he says.
O’Neal has built a reputation since retirement for touching, spontaneous gestures from paying restaurant bills to buying a fellow customer’s engagement ring in a jewellery store. That kindness dates all the way back to his first rookie pay cheque when he was drafted first overall by the Orlando Magic in 1992.
“I bought my Mom a house,” he recalls. "It’s a man’s job to protect, provide and love his family and the women in his life.
“I brought me a couple of cars and a bit of jewellery, but before I even got myself a place I had to buy my mom a palace, because we grew up in small houses. I was very, very blessed, I got a lot of money, so I just had to make sure she was straight.”
Nowadays, O'Neal's ability to make a positive impact on those around him extends far beyond those closest to him and extends across the globe.
Taking in the sights and sounds of Abu Dhabi, O’Neal made plenty of people happy along the way. The capital city of the United Arab Emirates repaid the compliment - to such an extent that he started looking at property during his trip.
“It’s been fabulous,” he said. “The people have been really hospitable, and it’s one of the prettiest places I’ve been since Singapore.
“Very hospitable, very disciplined and I’m actually looking at real estate here - I’m definitely coming back. It’s like Miami - very beautiful, very clean. This will probably be my home if I come to the UAE.”
It is fair to say that O’Neal’s trip was more successful than when he enjoyed a pre-season tour overseas as a player which almost ended in disaster.
“I went to London and I almost got arrested. Prince Charles had to save me, ” he says, before telling the story of how he was almost arrested by one of the Queen’s Guards after a member of his team bet he couldn’t make them jump.
“Because they have really good discipline,” he explains, mimicking a growl he thought might make them flinch. “I kind of bumped one by accident and they came and detained me. I told them, ‘look, I am the David Beckham of America!’.
“That’s what I told them, I said, ‘look, I’m the David Beckham of America, tell Prince Charles I meant no disrespect and somebody came in and said, ‘OK, don’t let it happen again', and I was able to go. I don’t know if Prince Charles got the word, but that’s a true story.”
This time, there were no brushes with the law and, instead of seeing the age-old sights of London, he was treated to breathtaking modern landmarks such as the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Qasr Al Watan Presidential Palace.
Speaking from a luxury beach resort on Saadiyat Island, O’Neal was midway through a trip which involved everything from quad biking in the desert to racing around Yas Marina F1 circuit with fine dining and plenty more in between.
And he was sitting courtside at Etihad Arena on Yas Island as a sell-out crowd had the chance to watch ‘Greek Freak’ Giannis in the opening game and was treated to a Trae Young masterclass two days later as the Atlanta Hawks made it two wins from two.
Whilst Antetokounmpo sat out the second contest, he threw himself head-first into events in the area and got involved with kids at Jr NBA Abu Dhabi academy. O’Neal hopes it could inspire Abu Dhabi to provide the next NBA superstar.
“It’s great that the game is here. It’s definitely a global game, and when you see it first hand, it just does something to you,” he said.
“Kudos to the NBA and Abu Dhabi for having the games here, because I think it’s wonderful for the people here.
“I’ve said to all the other reporters, it’s different from watching it on TV. The fact Giannis is right there, you can see him up close, it’s big.
“It’s big for the children. I know the adults will have fun, but for kids looking up to the superstars, to be able to see them in real life, I think it’s definitely going to ignite some local kids.
“Hopefully in 5-10 years we can see someone from this region go and dominate college ball and make it into the NBA.”
The NBA has changed since O’Neal played. He notes it is far less physical and admits his career could be a different story in the present day.
“The game is much, I hate to use this word, I’m not going to say soft, it’s just less physical.”
With his trademark, deadpan confidence, he insists when asked who he’d like to play against from the current crop of stars that “nobody” could “handle the pressure” of facing him.
But that doesn’t mean he lacks an appreciation for the skills of those currently dominating at the highest level.
“I like watching Steph Curry, he’s my favourite player,” he says. “There’s great shooters, but he’s a phenomenal shooter. Steph is special.”
“There are lots of great players that are doing great things for the league, and as a kid there are guys you can really look up to.
“When I was coming up there was 10-15 guys - Magic, Bird, Kareem then it kind of went away and then me and Kobe took over, then you had LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh.
“Every couple of years you have four or five guys. You’ve got Trae, you’ve got Steph, you’ve got Giannis, you’ve got LeBron, you’ve got Zion so there are a lot of big names that can carry the league for at least another 10-15 years.”
He also notes the way the make-up of the NBA has changed, with several international players now amongst the best the league has to offer.
“When I was coming up, there was one or two international players, now in the top 20 you’ve got six or seven, maybe eight international players that are dominating the game. They’re not just fitting in, they’re dominating the game.
“You’ve got Luka (Doncic), you’ve got Giannis, you’ve got Embiid, the joker (Nikola Jokic), a couple of guys from Serbia.
“The game was always a global game, but it’s much more global now and I think the gap between American players and European players has definitely closed.”
The Bucks and Hawks heading to Abu Dhabi - plus the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards playing in Tokyo - have added to the league’s international element in pre-season.
But all eyes are now on America and the beginning of the regular season next week with O’Neal highlighting several teams he expected to be in the mix for the championship.
“It’s going to be a great season, and you can’t forget Golden State. They have the chemistry. Phoenix and Boston are going through a lot but I feel they can persevere.
“You’ve got Philly, you’ve got the Clippers and the thing about all sports is no-one cares what happened last year. It’s a new year, you’ve got all these teams trying and wanting to be world champions.”
