“I’m a weird big guy… Do a lot of stuff. But always do things the right way,” said Shaquille O’Neal once about his off-court activities. And he has also proved that he meant his words. Shaquille O’Neal has always been larger than life—whether dominating on the basketball court, entertaining audiences, or diving into the culinary world. From crispy fried chicken to decadent burgers, Shaq has built a reputation for creating delicious, crowd-pleasing eats. Now, the seven-footer is on a mission to impress his TNT colleague.

In a recent Instagram video that has fans buzzing, Shaq was seen rolling up his sleeves to craft a personalized pizza for fellow NBA legend Charles Barkley. Set in the kitchen of Papa John’s, the video showcased a playful moment between two friends and the unique culinary skills Shaq has honed since joining forces with the $1.8 billion pizza giant. “The Barkleyoni 😂,” read the caption of the video.

This isn’t the first time that Shaq collaborated with Papa John’s. On June 29, 2020, the former NBA player collaborated with the food industry giant to create his own pizza, the Shaq-a-Roni Pizza, which is an extra-large, shareable pizza featuring extra cheese and extra pepperoni. “It was important to me for the Shaq-a-Roni to be bigger than just pizza. By giving my new pie a try, one dollar will be donated to The Papa John’s Foundation for Building Community to support COVID-19 relief, the fight against racial injustice, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, UNCF  and general community involvement,” said Shaquille O’Neal when his pizza was launched.

Moreover, the seven footer’s love for food even resulted in the opening of a fast-food chain that is now available in over 40 locations. In 2018, Shaquille O’Neal launched Big Chicken, his fast-casual restaurant concept, with the first location opening in Las Vegas. Designed to bring Shaq’s signature personality to comfort food, Big Chicken quickly became known for its bold flavors and oversized portions. The menu, inspired by Shaq’s favorite family recipes, has a heartfelt touch: many items were crafted with the help of his mother, Lucille O’Neal, who shared her Southern-style cooking expertise. Signature dishes include hearty fried chicken sandwiches like the “Shaq Attack,” crispy chicken tenders, and loaded sides like “Dirty Fries” seasoned with cheese, bacon, and jalapeños.

“It was my mother’s creation. So, we brought her [Lucille O’Neal] down, and she worked with the executive chefs on how the macaroni should taste, how the chicken should be battered, and everybody was receptive to that,” said O’Neal about the start of Big Chicken.

Moreover, this moment of Shaquille O’Neal making a pizza for Charles Barkley at Papa John’s carries a special significance, as it symbolizes a friendship that evolved from rivalry to camaraderie. Once fierce competitors on the court, Shaq and Barkley had a famous on-court scuffle during a 1999 Lakers vs. Philadelphia 76ers game, where tensions escalated, and punches were thrown. That clash, however, became the foundation for a strong bond between the two NBA legends. Since then, they’ve formed an entertaining and playful rapport on TNT’s Inside the NBA, where their banter and good-natured jabs have become fan favorites.

This gesture of Shaq cooking for Barkley is a lighthearted reminder of how far they’ve come, transforming from rivals to friends who can laugh, argue, and share a meal together. However, a few days back, Big Aristotle’s love for food went global.

Shaquille O’Neal’s food ventures in Abu Dhabi

Shaq is back in his new favorite “paradise” but has fallen for their cuisine first. The seven-footer has been exploring Abu Dhabi’s vibrant street food culture through a new video series, “Street Bites with Shaq,” created in partnership with Visit Abu Dhabi.

Known for his love of food and outsized personality, in the first video of the campaign Shaq dove into the flavors of the UAE, sampling dishes at local favorites like Al Dhafra, where he tries traditional Emirati lamb ghouzi. “The rice, lamb and spices come together perfectly. I had to eat slower than usual to savor the taste. The ghouzi from Al Dhafra restaurant belongs on every highlight reel. No wonder it’s an urban treasure,” said Shaq in the video.

In the next video of the campaign, Shaq was seen sampling sweets from a popular Abu Dhabi store by the name of Al Sultan Sweets, which is a dessert shop specializing in Middle Eastern sweets, particularly baklava. “Golden Brown, layered to perfection. These sweets melt in your mouth. Trust me, the mixed Baklava from Al Sultan Sweets in Abu Dhabi are a certified favorite,” said Shaq in the video.

As per the National, future videos will feature him eating luqaimat, or sweet dough ball with date syrup which he describes as “mini basketballs” from Luqaimat and Chebab. Through these episodes, Shaq brings international attention to Abu Dhabi’s culinary diversity, mixing food exploration with his fun-loving approach.