While the stigma would suggest otherwise, NBA players are quickly turning into stout businessmen as well. Even though the common notion about athletes not finding much success post-career is prevalent, these players are slowly breaking the mold. However, even among them, one name stands above the others. Whether it be entertainment, media, fast food, or music, Shaquille O’Neal is taking over every facet. However, there is one investment of his that remains relatively low-key. Despite being one of his biggest ventures, his dip into Esports isn’t as famous as some of the other areas. But, it’s a business that’s quickly flourishing and paying remarkable dividends for the 51-year-old.

But, before we get into his net investments and their return, first comes the genesis. For a sports fanatic like the 4x NBA Champion, diving into Esports isn’t completely out of the blue. But, it is an uncommon ordeal.  So, where did the idea come from? What made the basketball legend turn a new leaf?

The genesis

Surprisingly, Shaq wasn’t the first to make the bridge from basketball to Esports. Instead, it was one of his most controversial rivals. During the peak of the big man’s powers, in his dominant run in LA, the rivalry with the Sacramento Kings was one to behold.

Despite several close calls, the Los Angeles Lakers got the better of Sac-Town each time. One infamous Game 7 notwithstanding. But, that same Sacramento team served as the bridge between the two sporting worlds. NRG Esports came into existence in 2015 courtesy of the Kings co-owners, Mark Mastrov and Andy Miller.

Soon after the Lakers legend took an active hand in it, dealing a massive investment in 2016. But, the idea wasn’t due to a result of a close bond with the Kings team or its owners. Instead, it was a result of a heartfelt decision, much like most of his other business dealings. The entire idea came about after Shaquille took in an Esports event due to his children.

The event that enraptured Shaquille O’Neal

During an interview in 2021, Shaq made his intentions with the investment clear. “When I make investments, it’s never because of the monetary things that can or cannot happen.” Instead, his choice of venture comes from a personal connection.

“I was in California, I was spending time with the kids and they said, “Dad, there’s an event at the Staples Center [League of Legends Season 3 World Championship]. We want you to take us. So you know, I know people at the Staples Center. I call over there. I said, “Hey, you guys got an event going down.” They said, “Yeah there’s this new thing called esports, blah blah blah, come, because I’ve never heard of it.”

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But, his experience was one he was quite familiar with. Likening it to a basketball game, Shaq relived his experience, sharing that there were around 30,000 kids screaming and enjoying playing on screen. That is where his kids told him that it was the future. 

After that, it was a matter of time before an astute business mogul like O’Neal would take the plunge. “I looked into it. And then when I got the opportunity to invest in an esports team, I thought it was the right thing to do. Because you know, especially when it comes to technology, kids dictate what’s going to be and what’s not going to be.” But, like he keeps reiterating, it wasn’t the monetary aspect that drew him in.

The philosophy behind his investments

“When I do investments, it’s all about partnerships. It’s all about learning. It’s all about growing. And again, it’s never about the monetary.” To O’Neal, the feeling he got from attending the League of Legends event at Staples was enough to convince him. He went into detail about why he thinks the business can thrive.

“A lot of kids are at home, sitting down playing video games. [It’s] much safer that way now. But you know, that this thing has, you know, emerged into something I never thought it would be,” quoted The Washington Post. His investment in the sport, however, comes from a selfish place too.

The monetary value

Since his investment, NRG has continued to grow into a juggernaut in the Esports world. As a result, it lines up with the big man’s plans. “Seventy-two percent of all professional athletes, when they’re done playing, have nothing. I don’t want to be part of that stat,” he told Front Office Sports. He further stated that he wanted to create generational wealth for his family.

With the perfect brand of investments, the 15x All-Star has continued to amass a ridiculous fortune. Between his investments in other industries, flourishing career as a DJ, and continued entertainment value, O’Neal shows no signs of slowing down.

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His investment in NRG has been a huge success on that front. Since 2020, the company’s net worth has grown by 55%. Last year, NRG made it into the top 10 most valued Esports Companies List by Forbes. With an estimated revenue of $28 million in 2021, the company is a surefire bet for Shaq.

In a long line of them, the Hall of Famer continues to prove why he’s one step ahead of the competition, even in the investing circuit. While he dominated the NBA courts for a long time, the same is becoming increasingly true for his career in the business sector. Soon enough, the legend of Shaquille O’Neal might just become the brand Shaquille O’Neal.