Last year, Shaquille O’Neal’s youngest son entered the transfer portal in search of a new home. After his career-best number, Shaqir O’Neal is reportedly on his way to find another home. With March Madness going on in full flow, the portal is active at an all-time high! The number for this year has already surpassed 1000 college athletes- yes, THOUSAND players! NIL and transfer portals have been a topic of hot debate in the basketball community, and even the Rockets legend shared his two cents.

“Oh man, that portal is crazy, man! But I mean I get it, you know, I mean we’ve been wanting this for a long time; athletes get paid in college. I just think they just got to, sh– out of control!” Vernon Maxwell said so on the recent episode of All the Smoke podcast with Matt Barnes. The control that Mad Max wants for college athletes is because of one student of the Auburn program. “I hear Bruce Pearl say the other day like, man he’s trying to talk this kid back coming back into school, and this kid’s already 26 years old…”

The kid in question is Chad Baker-Mazara who has turned 25 this year. But if he stays for another season, he will be 26 next season. Coach Pearl wants his star player to return. “Without any kind of appeal, Chad Baker has another year of eligibility.” The Tigers HC is referring to the NCAA’s decision to grant all former JUCO prospects another year of eligibility last December. That’s why Maxwell wants the introduction of age limit to not hinder the development of other players.

“They got to have an age limit on this.” Maxwell continued, “Pay the kids. Pay the kids, whoever pay, who’s supposed to get paid, do that do all that. But man, you got to put an age limit on this man! You got a 27, 26-year-old man playing against a 19, 18-year-old kid man, I mean come on man.” So, his frustration is not towards Shaquille O’Neal’s son but towards older players in college basketball.

As per On3’s Jamie Shaw, Shaqir O’Neal has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Past season, he played for Florida A&M, where he earned career-high playing time. Even his stats improved, but he’ll search for the third school of his career.

Shaquille O’Neal’s son experienced the same journey last year

At the time, he was playing for Texas Southern. The junior forward spent two years with the team but could only manage to get 1 start each in those two seasons. Additionally, his playing time was 7 minutes and 9.7 minutes, respectively. Before signing with the Tigers, the 21-year-old was ranked no. 285 prospect in the class of 2021 and the 21st senior in the state of Georgia at the time.

His time at TSU ended with 1.3 points and 1.8 points in his first two seasons for the program. That’s why he entered the transfer portal to find a coach and a program that would develop him. Florida A&M was the right fit for Shaquille O’Neal’s son. In 29 games, he started 17 games, went on to play 17.1 minutes per game, and averaged 6.7 points per game. Far better contribution than his previous stint with the Tigers.

Now, Shaquille O’Neal’s son will hope to find a better home, and as per reports, will aid in his development further. This is what Vernon Maxwell was alluding to when he stated that young players benefit from the transfer portal. But will Mad Max statements draw the attention of lawmakers in order to control and regulate the portal better? Because even this year the first day, more than 750 names entered the portal.