Shaq surprises fans with shot at Abu Dhabi Stadium

Basketball fans in Abu Dhabi were pleasantly surprised when celebrity player Shaquille O’Neal took a shot at a local court on Monday.

The 50-year-old former NBA star was eating lunch in the capital during a break at a nearby stadium.

James McGill, 36, who easily spotted the 216cm-tall superstar, said: “I have a lot of family visits and I live in Rem, so we’re on the island of Santorini in Rem. , he also had lunch with his entourage,” in the restaurant.

“We followed him to Rem Park to play basketball.”

Known as “Shaq,” now a sports analyst Inside the NBA Spend time taking photos with fans and showing off his talent on the court.

When asked about his interactions with the star, Mr McGill said he was a “sound man”.

“[It was} just him being amazing with the locals,” he said. “He took the time to walk to the park and was applauded on to the basketball court by all the kids playing there.

“Everyone chanting ‘Shaq Shaq Shaq!’ And he took the time to take selfies with everyone.”

The four-time NBA champion is in the UAE for the first time in his role as ambassador for the 2022 NBA Abu Dhabi Games.

O’Neal, a superstar centre who graced teams including Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat during a 19-year playing career, also participated in a variety of interactive fan events and youth development programmes.

The Abu Dhabi Games are part of a multiyear partnership between the NBA and the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, under which the first Junior NBA Abu Dhabi League was launched this year, a youth basketball league for 450 boys and girls aged 11-14 from local schools.

Updated: October 10, 2022, 5:56 PM