Shaq Names ‘Purest’ NBA Player Ever Who He Had To ‘Protect’
Shaquille O'Neal has revealed the 'purest' NBA player he ever played alongside during his illustrious career in the league.
As well as being one of the greatest basketball players of all time, the four-time NBA champion is also widely regarded as one of the most generous.
He once paid for a meal for a family of 11 and bought them a van, and on another occasion tipped a waitress $1,000 after hearing her car had broken down.
One player who experienced that generosity was former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Mark Madsen, the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft.
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O'Neal even helped Madsen with money for a down payment on a new car.
Speaking on the FAIR GAME podcast, he described Madsen as 'the purest NBA guy I ever met'.
"He really was," he continued.
"And I had to protect that.
"Most rookies when they come in, they go crazy, including me. I went crazy. Mark was none of that."
But Shaq also recognised the importance of allowing Madsen to feel part of the team.
“It was my job to protect him,” he said.
“But I still wanted to make him cool, part of the guys. We have like $1000 suits and Mark, little Khakis, little shirt. And I said, ‘Mark, you gotta look like an NBA pro.”
Shaquille O'Neal's generous gestures
The NBA star has made a habit of showing kindness away from the court.
When he once found himself behind a young man in a jewellery store queue, he bought the man's engagement ring on the spot.
In 2020, he paid the funeral expenses for Dexter Rentz, a high school football player who was killed in a shooting in Orlando.
And back in 2009, when he and LeBron James were teammates at the Cleveland Cavaliers, Shaq bought James a $450,000 Rolls Royce as a birthday present.
O'Neal credits his father for inspiring him to be generous.
He said: "He gives the guy the food.
"He gets in the car and slams the door.
"He got a little tear in his eye and looks and said, ‘If you ever make it big time, make sure you help those in need.’
"He just drive and didn’t say nothing the rest of the way home."
NBA Stars on Shaquille O'Neal
Other NBA players have also spoken about O'Neal's kindness.
Former Miami Heat NBA champion Jason Williams said: "There's not a better human being in this whole wide world than Shaq."
While Tyronn Lue added: "Off the court, one of the [most fun] guys I've ever been around.
"The biggest thing with Shaq [was] he really, genuinely cared about people."
Former MVP Allen Iverson has also described him as "the most honest person and the most loyal person."
Topics: Shaquille ONeal, NBA, Basketball, LA Lakers
James Taylor