Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal is on a mission to regain his championship-caliber physique, and he’s well on his way, having shed an impressive 55 pounds. Speaking to ET’s Nichelle Turner, the 51-year-old former Los Angeles Lakers star shared his remarkable weight loss journey and his goals for achieving peak physical condition.
According to Shaq via ETOnline, he recently weighed in at 351 pounds, having already lost a significant amount of weight. He reflected on his weight during his championship-winning years, mentioning that he weighed 345 pounds during his first NBA championship in 2000, 375 pounds the following year for the Lakers’ second consecutive title, and 395 pounds when he and the late Kobe Bryant secured their third straight championship in 2002. However, after being traded to the Miami Heat in 2004, Shaq managed to achieve his best shape, weighing a solid 315 pounds when he led the Heat to their first NBA title in franchise history in 2006.
Now, Shaq’s goal is to reach a weight between 315 and 330 pounds. He acknowledges that he sets “crazy goals” for himself, inspired in part by some good-natured ribbing of his NBA on TNT colleague and friend, Charles Barkley, affectionately calling him “fat.”
However, Shaq’s weight loss journey goes beyond jests and jesters. He opened up about his struggles, emphasizing how his health had deteriorated to the point where he couldn’t even walk up the stairs comfortably. Discontent with his reflection in the mirror, he initially aimed to lose 20 pounds but found himself setting more ambitious goals along the way.
Shaquille O’Neal attributed his successful weight loss to significant changes in his eating habits, transitioning to a healthier diet. He humorously referred to his physique as having “a little 4.9 pack” and revealed his aspirations to achieve an “eight pack.”
“I’m probably gonna get between 315 and 330,” Shaq says.
He admits he sets “crazy goals” for himself, spurred at first by him getting “Charles Barkley, a.k.a. fat,” a playful jab, no doubt, at his NBA on TNT colleague and good friend. All kidding aside, Shaq shared the struggles that led him to walk a healthier path.
“I was getting chubby and couldn’t even walk up the stairs. I didn’t like the way I looked in the mirror,” he admits. “I was like, ‘I’m gonna lose 20’ and then I was trying to lose 20.”
From there, Shaq kept pushing the goal, all the while drastically changing his eating habits. He jokes that he currently owns a “a little 4.9 pack” but the goal is to get “an eight pack.”
In December, Shaq spoke to ET about prioritizing his health and shared that he had already lost 40 pounds at that time. His determination to improve his health stemmed from a health assessment that revealed the need for dietary and lifestyle changes, including paying more attention to his nutrition.
Beyond his fitness journey, Shaq remains committed to philanthropy and helping children and families in need. He is preparing for his third annual fundraiser with the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club, titled “The Event.” The gala, presented by Pepsi Stronger Together, is set for October 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will benefit children in need.
