With New Bling to Flex on a Date, Shaquille O’Neal Defends His Favorite Spots on New Viral List

If you were scrolling through your social media feed last week, chances are you came upon that very long list of ‘unacceptable first date spots.’ It’s been quite an entertaining debate on the Internet. Since dishing opinions is the job description at Inside the NBA, TNT showed them the list for their reactions. While the reactions were mixed, Shaquille O’Neal was predictably hilarious.

His colleagues know him so well that they could spoil what Shaq would say about the list. Anyone who is accompanying a fancy night out on the town with Shaq should take note from his friends about what to expect.

Shaquille O’Neal reveals his date night picks

The viral list explicitly contains Shaq’s favorite hangouts. So he’s not only going to drop by these places, he’s also defending them. Shaq frequents the hookah scene and prefers that over alcohol. He even bought an entire hook bar and recently revealed he loves the t-shirts. It’s become a running joke within the Inside Crew too. When he missed the 2023 All-Star game due to being ill, they joked he was lying and was probably at his bar.

No. 25 on the list is a hookah bar. Shaq expert, Charles Barkley said, “Shaq would definitely love the hookah bar thing.” As he said, it cut to O’Neal saying, “Hookah bar is very acceptable.” 

Rick Ross stopped by the TNT studio at the start of the NBA season for the premiere of Shaq and Dame Lillard’s remix of ‘Shaq & Kobe‘. Rozay commemorated the event by gifting Big Diesel a massive spinning MMG chain. O’Neal flexed his jewelry claiming, “I’m about to kill ’em at the hookah bar with this.” 

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Clearly, Shaq doesn’t think No. 25 deserves to be on the list. His current dating game is a secret but if someone is taking him out on a date, he’ll love that spot.

There were some other places on the list that appalled the Inside Crew too. But no. 1 in particular disagreed with Shaq.

Shaq’s love for Cheesecake Factory runs strong

The list contains several national restaurant chains that sparked the debate. If you asked the Inside Guys, they couldn’t believe how some of them even made it on there. No. 1 on that list is Cheesecake Factory. Shaquille O’Neal vehemently shot it down with, “Cheesecake Factory, not true. I love orange chicken.”

Shaq shares his love for the 1.98 billion franchise with Stephen Curry. He will not accept this disrespect to his favorite restaurant. And his prospective date also knows to expect an order of orange chicken.

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Fans loved these guys’ reactions to the list. And given how fun Shaq is, they’re willing to give his choice of date venues a pass. Do you like Shaq’s favorite spots?