Shaquille O’Neal Shuts Down TNT’s Attempts to Liven Up 53rd Birthday Bash

“I don’t accept gifts,” remember the quote? Yes, it is Shaquille O’Neal. He is quite sure about what he doesn’t. But contrary to his belief in accepting gifts, the basketball legend has always been generous in giving gifts to others. He once bought a $1 million Rolls-Royce for his friend and collaborator, GAWNE. The 4x NBA champion also once paid the bill for a random young man’s engagement ring when he saw him hesitating over the price. And who can forget him gifting a van to a family of 11? Even for his birthday celebration, O’Neal planned surprises for his TNT colleagues.

Even if you imagine March 6, it gives a vibe of how packed up the day would be for basketball fans! The 76ers face the Celtics, while the Knicks take on the Lakers. And it will also be O’Neal’s birthday. Hectic but exciting, right? The basketball legend will turn 53 this year, though TNT host Adam Lefkoe hilariously joked about it being his 40th birthday. “Everybody on Thursday, Shaquille o’ Neal celebrates birthday number 40. Congratulations,” Lefkoe teased the big man who will turn 53 this time. And in response, Shaq added, “Thanks.” When the host asked him about his plans, O’Neal surprised everyone. The hosts, the fans, and everyone who were excited to celebrate his birthday!

Lefkoe continued to press him and even made suggestions. He even asked him about his favorite cake. However, the Lakers’ legend confirmed that he has no such plans for the big day. “What are you going to have? A cake?” Lefkoe asked. And guess what Shaq replied? “Nope.” Again, the question followed. “What’s your favorite kind of cake? Ice cream cake?” The response again is the same. “No cake.” “Donuts? Macaroni?” he teased again. Shaq then shut him, “Nothing.” Well, his 51st birthday was also more about giving than receiving.

It was unclear how O’Neal celebrated his birthday, but the brands connected to the Lakers legend went all out. His fast-food chain, Big Chicken, announced free ice cream cones for everyone. This was limited to one cone per person, with no purchase required. Great, right? But it seems a huge party or celebration isn’t what O’Neal prefers. Could this be because of his bizarre rule?

Shaq likes to be the Santa

The Big Aristotle doesn’t like to receive gifts (repetitive, but we can’t help but remind)! Not even during Christmas. He doesn’t even accept one from his family. But guess, what? He likes to be the Santa Claus for the family. In a conversation with PEOPLE magazine, the basketball legend shared, “I always tell my family, ‘Show me a movie where Santa receives a gift and I’ll let you buy me a gift.’”

“As long as everybody else is happy, I’m happy,” O’Neal explains the reason behind his odd rule. What’s even more insane is that he has a room where he has kept all the unopened gifts from people for 3 decades. “I take it, I got a storage room with 30 years worth of gifts, I’ll open it up one day,” O’Neal said as he added that he might open all the gifts one day. And his theory is quite simple!

He says that he started doing that when he became the breadwinner of his house in 1992. It seems that O’Neal’s rule for Christmas also applies to his birthday. And perhaps that is why he doesn’t wish to have big celebrations or gifts. So, at least in this life, you can just wish Shaq on his birthday, but if you wish to offend the big man, you can dare to send him gifts. But there’s no guarantee of the consequences. But wait, he has a big heart!