Shaquille O’Neal is stepping into a new chapter in his post-NBA career. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the four-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer has agreed to become the general manager of the Sacramento State men’s basketball program.
O’Neal will take on the role in an unpaid, voluntary capacity, becoming the first GM under newly appointed head coach Mike Bibby. This move also gives Shaq the opportunity to be closer to his son, Shaqir O’Neal, who recently transferred from Florida State to Sacramento State.
In the modern era of college sports dominated by Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, O’Neal joins a growing trend of NBA stars stepping into management roles at the college level. Steph Curry and Trae Young have recently taken assistant GM positions at their alma maters, Davidson and Oklahoma, respectively.
Shaq, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft and a dominant force at LSU, continues to stay active in basketball circles. Besides this new venture, he remains a popular figure as an analyst on TNT’s Inside the NBA.
