Overtime Elite has truly taken the basketball world by storm. It may have started out as just a league supported by fans and talented players. However, the league has already produced some of the best talents and top picks in the NBA. And that too in just three years. Ausar Thompson, who was selected as the 5th overall pick last year, is the perfect example. It seems to have also garnered the interest of Shaquille O’Neal, who was spotted with one of the rising stars from the league.

The 4x champion made an appearance at a recent game, which pitted Team Cam against Team Drifty. While Team Drifty won the matchup, O’Neal’s best fit took center stage. He wore a purple hoodie and his all-new Superman chain. The chain, with an “S” shield, was a spotlight stealer. It was quite a big surprise for the audience, who were awestruck, as well as the players, who were certainly boosted and motivated to show their best. 

A clip on the official page of the league showed a young fan gasping in shock and surprise upon seeing the Los Angeles Lakers legend. After all, it’s not every day that Shaq visits to watch a game. He posed with Whitney Bell and was seated next to the emerging talent, Eli Ellis. Both were spotted engrossed in conversation. 

Not just those who were present at the event, but netizens were also curious to know what they were talking about. “What y’all think they talking about? (Wrong answers only) 🤫 @eliellis @shaq @nationalguard,” the OTE IG post asked the followers.

In the comments section, the 18-year-old wrote, “He asked if I heard that new Gelo.” It’s likely that Shaquille O’Neal is intrigued by Ellis’s game. He has been phenomenal.

Who is the internet sensation Eli Ellis?

Playing for the YNG Dreamerz in the Overtime Elite League (OTE), Ellis quickly gained attention. His brother, Isaac Ellis, also plays alongside him under the guidance of their coach and father, Jeremy Ellis. Eli’s scoring prowess on the court earned him the title of OTE League’s Season MVP.

He averaged 33.4 points on 45.1 percent shooting from the floor across 16 games in the league last year. Started by Dan Porter, Co-Founder and CEO of Overtime, this league features eight teams battling to win the OTE Championship and has been able to shine a spotlight on the talents.

Both Ellis and his brother have a bright future. The brothers played together at Moravian Prep High School in Hickory, NC. During his appearance on Flau’jae Johnson’s podcast, Best of Both Worlds, the player opened up about his NIL deals and playing alongside his brother.

“It’s a lot of fun because we grew up just beating each other up. I was the older brother, we just played one-on-one, and usually every one-on-one turned into a boxing match,” Ellis said.

Back in 2023, Eli committed to the South Carolina Gamecocks and will join the team in 2025. While Eli has been keeping the hype high, Isaac has yet to share his college commitment.