Jun 5, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; TV analyst Shaquille O'Neal looks on beforeg game two of the 2022 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 5, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; TV analyst Shaquille O'Neal looks on beforeg game two of the 2022 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Shaquille O’Neal has already retired from basketball once, but now the NBA legend is planning a second retirement, and he already has a nice picture of where he wants to spend it and how he wants to spend it.
During an appearance on the Sommer Time podcast, Shaq spoke about stepping away from his busy post-NBA career in approximately three years, and when that happens, Shaq says fans should expect him to stop working nearly as much.
“Oh, no, I’m going to be retired… No, I’m going to be done. In three years… But I guarantee I’m going to be with a hot mama on a yacht with a goddamn a** collar on.”
“I mean, I don’t like to talk about money. I’m rich now, but in three years, when I’m wealthy, I’m going to be doing—I’m going to be doing rich people s**t. Because I’m not—because I’m not wealthy.”
“Again, when you’re raised by a drill sergeant, you’re not allowed to be complacent. I just, you know, keep working, working, working.”
“But in three years, I’ll be 57, and I’m going to have me a little young, hot mama. Younger than me… I’ll have to be careful. I know what I’m doing, boo boo. Trust me. Big pimpin’ over here.”
Shaq retired from the NBA in 2011 after a legendary 19-year career, but his retirement doesn’t mean he has slowed down.
The four-time NBA champion is one of basketball’s biggest personalities through his work as an analyst on Inside the NBA. He has also continued building his massive business empire and appearing in commercials and endorsements, while also building his career as a DJ.
Despite earning more than $280 million in salary during his NBA career and building a $400 million net worth through his business afterward, Shaq doesn’t think he has reached the ultimate financial destination yet.
The distinction between rich and wealthy might sound strange coming from someone as successful as Shaq, but he explained that the mindset helps keep him motivated.
Shaq credited much of his work ethic to his upbringing. His stepfather, Philip Harrison, was an Army drill sergeant, and Shaq thinks that environment made complacency impossible.
But eventually, Shaq intends to stop. The Hall of Famer is currently 54 years old and thinks 57 could be the age when he finally allows himself to enjoy everything he has built without having to maintain his current workload.
Shaq’s comments were given with the type of humor that has helped him become such a successful entertainer since retiring from basketball, but there appears to be a serious retirement plan underneath these jokes.
More than 15 years after ending his playing career, Shaq remains busy between television, business, endorsements, and entertainment.
But for now, the grind continues.
But if Shaq sticks to his three-year timeline, his next retirement could look very different from his first: no basketball schedule, very few business obligations, and a lot of time on a yacht.