Shaquille O’Neal is Returning to Basketball in Surprising Role

NBA legend and Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal will take on a new role in basketball.

More Basketball news: Former NBA Star Mike Bibby Named New Head Coach at Sacramento State

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, O’Neal has agreed to become the men’s basketball general manager of Sacramento State.

Shaq
Shaquille O’Neal attends the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 17, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Shaquille O’Neal attends the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 17, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

“Shaquille O’Neal has agreed to become the men’s basketball general manager of Sacramento State, sources tell ESPN. It will be a voluntary role for Shaq, whose son, Shaqir O’Neal, also plays for Sac State under Mike Bibby. Shaq and Bibby form a star duo as college GM and coach,” noted Charania.

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Charania also added that his role with Sacramento State will be a voluntary role.

The four-time NBA champion is set to join former NBA guard Mike Bibby, who was recently named head coach at the school. O’Neal becomes the latest high-profile athlete to step into a general manager role at the collegiate level.

Just last month, two-time NBA MVP and Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry took on an assistant general manager role at his alma mater, Davidson, while retired NFL quarterback Andrew Luck accepted a similar position at Stanford last year.

The Hornets of Sacramento State will open a new basketball facility on campus next fall. According to Charania, the university president, Luke Wood, was aggressive in his approach to the athletic programs, which resulted in hiring Bibby.

The Hornets are coming off a horrid 2024-25 season. They finished last in the Big Sky Conference with a 7-25 record and a 3-15 conference record. They finished the season on a five-game losing streak.

O’Neal is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most dominant players in basketball history. His rare blend of skill, power, and charisma not only made him an all-time great on the court but also one of the most unforgettable personalities the NBA has ever seen — and likely ever will.

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