Say it ain’t so Shaq.
In 1996, near Atlanta on a highway, Shaquille O’Neal took an unexpected action: he tossed his Olympic gold medal out of the window of his car. Now, nearly three decades later, the NBA legend revisited this peculiar moment during an episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq, alongside co-host Adam Lefkoe.
Reflecting on the frustrating events leading up to the medal’s unusual fate, O’Neal shared his feelings from the time. “The Olympic games, ‘96, I played throughout, helped them come back, win games,” O’Neal recounted. “And in the gold medal game, [coach] Lenny Wilkens says, ‘Hey, this is probably David Robinson’s last game, so he’s gonna get more minutes.’ I said ‘Cool.’ ”
However, O’Neal’s patience wore thin when he was left on the bench until the final two minutes of the game. Fueled by frustration, he drove home in his uniform after the ceremony and, in a fit of anger, discarded the medal out the window onto I-75.
RELATED: Shaquille O’Neal Reveals Insane Dollar Amount That He Pays for Pedicures
The 1996 Olympics marked O’Neal’s sole appearance on an Olympic team, part of the renowned Dream Team III. Despite his rash decision to dispose of the medal, O’Neal confessed to retaining his uniform. Nevertheless, he believes the medal remains undiscovered to this day.
In a 2022 interview with PEOPLE, O’Neal acknowledged his lifelong struggle with managing anger, particularly after disappointing performances. However, he has since undergone a transformation, channeling his energy into positive actions. Nowadays, O’Neal finds joy in spontaneous acts of kindness, often surprising strangers with gifts during impromptu shopping trips.
Reflecting on his philanthropic gestures, O’Neal emphasized the importance of giving back and empathizing with others’ struggles, drawing from his own experiences growing up. Ultimately, he finds fulfillment in brightening someone else’s day, a testament to his evolution from a fiery competitor to a compassionate philanthropist.
