Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most successful NBA players of all time, earning that success through his incredible combination of size, skill, and ability. The 7-footer has been very successful because of his size, but even he wishes he was small at times. He revealed the only time he’s wanted to be small was to be able to drive luxury sports cars.
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“The only time I want to be small is when I walk by and I see guys in their little sports cars. The Ferrari’s and the Lamborghinis. I was the idiot who would buy sports cars knowing I wouldn’t fit and I’d play an extra $100,000 to $200,000 to make it fit. I have a red Ferrari, I’ve had a Lamborghini. One day I was in a Lamborghini and a guy blew me out in a Hellcat. I went to look at the Hellcat Charger and realized I could just move the seat back and fit. Now, I don’t do sports cars no more. I want to put nine Hellcat trucks.”
Shaq’s size is an other-worldly gift that he is glad he has. But when you make the millions that Shaq has over his career, it’s only natural to want to own a sports car. But if you’re spending money to not only buy the car but then hundreds of thousands to adjust its size to fit you specifically, that’s a brazen waste of money.
Shaq has one of the greatest car collections among athletes with some really special vehicles such as the Ferrari F335 Spider, a Cadillac Escalade with butterfly doors, a Superman Range Rover, a stretched Lamborghini Gallardo, and even multiple Rolls Royce’s. O’Neal once spent $1.3 million on three Rolls Royce’s because a car salesman told him he couldn’t afford it.
A 7-Foot Rookie Said He’d Rather Be 4-Feet Tall
It’s weird to see tall people want to be short, given how many short people would trade places with them. But being 6’2″ tall is very different from being 7’2″ tall. Shaq doesn’t enjoy his height because it put an end to his sports car habit, but Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively II explained in detail why he’d rather be 4’5″ earlier this season.
“4’5”. Being 7-foot is painful. It’s annoying and impractical. I can never hide, I can never do something slick. No clothes ever fit me, I can’t fit in a car, I can’t fit in a normal seat on a plane, and if I don’t pay attention and duck for doorways, I’m going to smack my forehead every time. I have showers that come up to my chest and I have to duck to wash my hair. It’s annoying as hell. Being 7’2 comes with its advantages, but the cons are right there with the pros.”
Lively, like Shaq, was a highly-touted prospect because of his height, so he can’t complain too much about where it’s gotten him. After all, he’s now the starting center as a rookie for a playoff franchise like the Mavericks. Even Lively mentioned fitting in cars as a drawback, so he and O’Neal share that issue.
He’s averaging 8.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks as a rookie, is expected to be a member of the All-Rookie Team, and played in the All-Star Rising Stars Challenge.
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