Shaquille O’Neal has always been known for his unapologetically unfiltered style. Throughout his NBA career, the 7-foot-1 giant didn’t hold back — not on the court, not in interviews, and certainly not when he wanted to make his presence felt. From his infamous press conference digs to his playful feuds with players like Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard, Shaq’s raw, no-holds-barred approach is sort of a trademark. But one story stands out: during his time with the Boston Celtics, his big personality was actually outdone by another player.

Recently, Marques Daniels, in an episode of the ‘Knuckleheads’ podcast recounted a bold moment about his first meeting with O’Neal after the Celtics move. By that time, Daniels was already a journeyman player, known for his strong defense and versatility. However, nothing had prepared him for meeting the powerhouse that was Shaq.

“Yeah, I was bad as hell, though, bro. I ain’t gonna lie. I was like, first time I seen Shaq, I c*ssed him out. He was chasing me… You know, like, for no reason, to be honest with you, I’m walking through the gym, you know, ‘Shaq, what you looking at?’ I’m like, ‘Man, f**k you’. It was just in my neighborhood, right down the street,” said Daniel during the podcast.

Shaq’s last season in the NBA was the 2010–2011 Celtics season. By then, his role was more about mentorship and using his experience to back up the young core of the team rather than scoring. Shaq averaged 9.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game that season — modest numbers compared to his career averages but still impactful for Boston. Although he wasn’t the high-flying, dominant force of his early career, his leadership brought a valuable presence to the locker room.

On the other hand, Daniels himself was known for his hustle and defense, fitting into Boston’s gritty, no-nonsense culture during that era. Still, he managed to average only 5.5 points the same season Shaq was present. With stars like Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen leading the team, both Shaq and Daniels played their parts, though O’Neal’s stay in Boston was ultimately short-lived due to injuries.

“Growing up, seeing him back then, Shaq and Dennis Scott, them, they’d be out in the parking lot, dancing, all the music playing. So it was cool coming home from school and seeing them getting out of pranks,” added Daniels during the podcast.

This revelation is a reminder of just how big Shaq’s personality was and how it impacted everything around him. It also proves that even icons can be taken by surprise, sometimes by those they least expect. Moreover, lately, there’s been a rise in the revelation of Shaq anecdotes that the majority of the basketball community didn’t know.

When a rare fact about Shaquille O’Neal’s pranks was revealed

On and off the court, Shaq’s playful antics have captivated fans for decades. However, a recent conversation exposed that the seven-footer’s pranks during his time at the Celtics were pre-planned. In the latest episode of the Got Sole podcast, Nate Robinson spilled the beans, disclosing that a series of pranks he and Shaq pulled while playing for the Boston Celtics were actually staged.

“He [Shaq] set them up though. Like believe it or not, Shaq set all those pranks up,” said Robinson during the podcast. As soon as the 40-year-old finished with the sentence, one of the Dimodica brothers brought up the question, “So it’s fake?” Robinson replied, “Not all of them but most of them yes. He set them up so lot of like the cookie, the popcorn, the water, we just set them all pranks.”

The duo’s most memorable “prank war” occurred during the 2010-11 season when they were teammates on the Celtics. Who could forget the time when Robinson had given a glass of salt water to Shaq who threw it up immediately after drinking it? But now as this has been revealed that Shaq’s pranks were staged only one question arises: Why did Diesel do the staged pranks then?

For his personal enjoyment or for audience engagement? Only Big Aristotle has the answer to this. But in the end, it can be said that O’Neal indeed left fans with a lasting impression of his charismatic, playful spirit.