Retired basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, aka Shaq, needs no introductions. The NBA listed the icon as one of the 50 greatest players of his generation. Right from his journey as a player with the Orlando Magic to his retirement after the 2010–2011 season, Shaq has inspired millions of fans, including bodybuilders.

Recently, the reigning champion of Mr. Olympia Classic Physique, Chris Bumstead, gave a shout-out to Shaq, tagging him in one of his stories. It looks like the bodybuilding sensation found his dose of content to motivate him.

Chris Bumstead gives a shout-out to Shaquille O’Neal on his Instagram story

Earlier, four-time champion Chris Bumstead added a carousel story to his Instagram page. In the first shot, he tagged the NBA analyst to episode four of the HBO documentary ‘Shaq’ based on the NBA player’s life. The episode was titled “From Shaq to Shaquille” and had a description that read, “A champion once again in Miami before age and injuries lead Shaq to the next phase of his life.” Referring to the interview-based sports documentary, the Canadian bodybuilder added, “Cardio content.”

In the second clip, Bumstead hilariously asked the dog to remove the weight after it was done with the workout. The reigning champ was doing hard training in the third post. He gave a shout-out to his training partner and wrote, “Should’ve done the 140s.”

Read More: “Better Than Ever”: Shaquille O’Neal Feels Elated as Bodybuilding Competition Returns After 11 Years of Absence

Bumstead’s post tagging Shaq speaks volumes about the personality of the basketball player. Despite having a larger-than-life persona, Shaq has remained humble and approachable. A few days earlier, a TikTok video appeared showing the 51-year-old actor and producer being saved from drowning by a group of young kids. Fret not; Shaq was just pretending to drown.

Children save Shaq from mock drowning in a TikTok video

The TikTok video is from the time O’Neal went to turn tables at a nightclub in Hawaii. The post made by a user, incatio highlighted Shaq pretending to drown in a family pool while kids jump in to save the NBA analyst. One kid exclaimed, “What a shame,” while others ran to save the seven-foot-one-inch player from going under the water. The wholesome video gained a lot of positive traction on social media. The incident was also mentioned in a popular media channel, the Daily Mail, UK.

The social media was full of heartwarming comments, which included, “Honestly iconic that he’s out there playing with the kids.” Another fan said, “He treats everyone so kindly and does a LOT for kids with his money and time!”. It is not every day that one witness a player of Shaq’s stature interact with fans in such an easy-going way. 

The sports community has a lot to learn from the legend. Shaq has redefined the concept of retirement by consistently strengthening his brand image. Be it his plethora of business ventures or his TNT commentary, Shaq continues to reach a wider audience. Furthermore, he has maintained a close relationship with the bodybuilding sport by opening many 24-hour fitness gyms. Shaq’s appeal lies in his outstanding reputation. No wonder champions like Chris Bumstead hold him in such high regard. What do you think of this bonhomie? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section.

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