Shaquille O’Neal has been adding side quests to inventory and this time it’s something historic. The former Los Angeles Lakers star is set to make his mark by being honored at a major event in New Orleans. But as we all know, everything Big Diesel does must have a touch of Shaq. Even this historic event in discussion has undertaken some changes to accommodate a larger-than-life personality and build of the 4x NBA champ.

Marvel Cinematic Universe star Anthony Mackie couldn’t help but spill the details during his recent appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. With excitement, he revealed that Shaq would reign as this year’s celebrity monarch for Bacchus.

“I ride on Sunday. My Krewe is Bacchus. And this year for Bacchus, our king is Shaq… Shaq is so large, we had to outfit the entire float… The king float been rolling for fifty years… We had to cut the top off the float and put a new throne on it and, like, spread out the steps for Shaq…” Mackie shared.

But it wasn’t just about making room—safety was another major concern. Mackie revealed on The Jeniffer Hudson Show that Shaquille O’Neal’s harness had to be pegged in four different places instead of the usual two because of his sheer size. Bacchus Krewe Captain Clark Brennan had already hinted at some of these adjustments, emphasizing how important it was to make the experience comfortable for the big man.

“Barry Kern’s company built a new throne so a big man like Shaq could fit and feel comfortable and safe,” Brennan said. And they didn’t hold back—the new throne is reportedly at least 48 inches wide and stands a towering 8 feet tall. Thus making it the biggest throne ever built for a Bacchus king.

The big event kicks off on March 2, rolling down the Uptown parade route on Tchoupitoulas Street and Napoleon Avenue. With this year’s theme being Louisiana Fairs and Festivals, Shaq will be tossing out 250,000 doubloons with his face on them and even throwing 1,000 basketballs. A king-sized celebration, indeed!

Shaquille O’Neal’s Louisiana roots helped him achieve this honor at Bacchus

Bacchus captain Clark Brennan stated he couldn’t have thought of a better choice for this year’s monarch. “I truly felt Shaq would be a perfect king because of his Louisiana ties with LSU. He’s a great ambassador and role model for our young kids today to do the right thing.”

And honestly, who better to lead the celebration than a larger-than-life icon who still holds Louisiana close to his heart? Shaq’s love for the state goes way back to his LSU days from 1989 to 1992. The time when he dominated the court and racked up awards like NCAA Player of the Year.

No wonder that to honor his purple-and-gold legacy, the Krewe is rolling out a brand-new tiger-themed float. Parade producer Barry Kern claims the float will rival Bacchus’s most famous signature floats. If that wasn’t enough, plans are in motion to have the LSU Tiger Marching Band join the festivities. This would make Shaquille O’Neal’s connection to Louisiana even more prominent.

Bacchus has a long history of celebrity monarchs since its founding in 1968, with past kings including William Shatner, Nicolas Cage, Michael Keaton, Hulk Hogan, and plenty more. Now, it’s Shaq’s turn to bring his signature charisma to the parade.