Shaquille O’Neal has always been more than just a basketball player. He’s a DJ, an actor, and a businessman, but one lesser-known interest? Hookah. Honestly, his lifestyle may be unconventional, but Shaquille O’Neal is living proof that even a cloud of smoke can’t fog up greatness. Context? Kenny Smith once spilled the tea on All the Smoke podcast, recalling Shaq’s early TNT days. “He created a hookah lounge in the studio, and they let him do this,” Smith said. “He was like, ‘I have to have my hookah.’” Apparently, they even set up a TV outside so he could keep up while smoking. At the time, Shaq was still adjusting to the crew, and his hookah obsession didn’t exactly help.

It turns out this wasn’t just a casual hobby. Back in 2022, Shaq admitted the truth during a backstage moment on Inside the NBA, shown on Netflix. While others headed to bars post-show, Shaq didn’t drink due to personal reasons. Feeling left out, he found a unique fix. As Charles Barkley revealed, Shaq came in one day and said, “I solved my problem. I bought a hookah bar.” That move might sound wild, but for Shaq, it was simply another way to stay involved on his own terms!

Fast forward to the Final Four Weekend in San Antonio, a fresh clip of Shaq made its rounds on Instagram. Before taping The Big Podcast, he was asked about his favorite places to visit. Without missing a beat, he replied, “Eisenhower Flea Market, the quarry, the Riverwalk, of course, Mamas, a couple hookah bars.” His go-to spots aren’t just about comfort; they reveal a man sticking to his habits, no matter what city he’s in.

And this habit? It’s not just routine. It’s an addiction. During his conversation with Letterman, Shaq confirmed it himself. When asked if he was addicted, he responded with a confident, “Yes.” He even joked about being able to stop anytime, sparking laughter from Barkley and Smith. Still, the moment felt honest. It’s interesting to see how he remains open about his vices instead of trying to hide them from the world, projecting an image that would have been false if he had kept this hobby of his a secret.

Despite the jokes and jabs, Shaq’s love for hookah has become part of his brand. His TNT co-hosts have also poked fun at him whenever he’s absent, joking he’s probably in the lounge. But behind that humor is a real addiction he’s not shy about. Whether it’s solving loneliness after showing or sticking to old routines, Shaq’s hookah habit isn’t fading anytime soon, and he’s not trying to hide it.

Shaquille O’Neal, Paul Pierce, or Doncic, who smokes the most?

Well, given Shaq’s long-standing hobby, one would think that it wouldn’t be easy to out-smoke him for any other NBA player. But it seems KG doesn’t think so. On their podcast Ticket and the Truth, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce shared laughs and jabs, blending health talk with real-life vices. It started light, with a PSA about blood clots following Damian Lillard’s recent diagnosis. But then Garnett took a left turn, labeling Pierce a “hookaholic,” and things got funnier from there.

Pierce, never one to back down, played along. He joked about his past injuries while Garnett kept teasing. Then Pierce asked, “Who smokes more hookah, me, Shaq, or Hookah Doncic?” Garnett didn’t hesitate: “You.” He doubled down, saying if Luka puffed like Pierce, “he smoking for real.” The exchange was hilarious, but there was more than just smoke in the air.

Pierce’s love for hookah isn’t new. It became public after a viral video, which led to his ESPN exit. Still, Pierce doesn’t seem to regret it. “I was done with them, anyway… You have to talk about LeBron all the time,” he said. He didn’t shy away from pointing out the double standards either, hinting that Hall of Famers with worse records still get praise.

Nowadays, Pierce has turned his hookah hobby into a business with The Truth Hollywood, a lounge that fits his vibe. He’s not the only one with a soft spot for it. Like previously mentioned, Shaquille O’Neal once bought a hookah shop just because he could. And Luka Doncic? NBA fans renamed him Hookah Doncic after some summer fun.

It’s funny how something as simple as a smoke can stir up so much noise. But in the end, maybe it’s just part of being human.