“Jerry [West] was the reason why I got to the Lakers” — Shaquille O’Neal clearly holds Jerry West in high regard. Now it may make some fans wonder that if this were the case, then why did the 4x NBA champ miss the hoops legend’s Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony? More importantly, this happened despite the fact that Big Diesel had a major role to perform at the ceremony. As per a post by Basketball HOF, the Laker, part of an esteemed list, was supposed to be one of the presenters!

This list of the presenters included names like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Michael Cooper, Jamaal Wilkes, Bob McAdoo, Pat Riley, Vlade Divac, Shaquille O’Neal, Del Harris and Pau Gasol.

However, among the ones to have missed Jerry West’s enshrinement ceremony were Shaq, Abdul-Jabbar, and Pau Gasol. While there are no updates on why Gasol and Kareem missed the HOF, we wonder if O’Neal missed it because of a commitment to his alma mater.

If you’ve been following updates on Shaquille O’Neal or recently came across his Instagram account, you’d know the former NBA star was lately in attendance at the LSU Tigers SEC matchup. Not only did the 4x NBA champ headline the traditional homecoming parade as the DJ, but also hosted ex-LSU star Leonard Fournette in an outdoor episode of his Big Podcast.

As for the game, not only was Big Diesel spotted photo bombing Molly McGrath’s live coverage from the LSU sidelines, as he took a big bite of his food while walking into the frame, but he also celebrated the team’s win with some fans at a bar!

Now, the ex-NBA star has not yet given any update on the reason behind missing the HOF induction ceremony. But the timeline of recent events may make fans wonder if LSU was the reason that Shaq skipped on a major role for West.

A closer look at Shaquille O’Neal’s bond with Jerry West

Shaq‘s bond with Jerry West was pivotal to his career, especially when it came to joining the Lakers. He himself has admitted that if it weren’t for West, his journey with the LA side might never have begun. In one of his podcast episodes, the Hall of Famer revealed the depth of their relationship, which was further highlighted by his heartfelt tribute when the hoops legend passed away earlier this year.

In an emotional Instagram post, Shaquille O’Neal reflected on Jerry West’s influence. “There are certain people that you come across, and from the moment you meet them, you know that your life is changed. That is what happened the moment that I met you,” he wrote.

Big Diesel expressed that West was always deliberate and thoughtful, with a deep understanding of the Lakers’ future. This foresight, Shaq noted, became clearer as time went on.

Shaquille O’Neal also recalled their first meeting at a hotel in Atlanta in the early hours of the morning. One where Jerry West’s words about doing great things stuck with Big Diesel. The legend predicted the Lakers’ future success, including the impact of a young Kobe Bryant, and shared his belief that Shaq and Kobe would lead the team to multiple championships.

Big Diesel emphasized how Jerry West’s confidence in their potential helped him believe in the dynasty they eventually built together. Now it’s to be seen if the 4x NBA champ comes up with the reason behind missing West’s HOF enshrinement ceremony.