Shaquille O’Neal, the NBA legend, has expanded his business empire into Kansas City. According to Fox4KC, the sports expert has opened a new branch of his Big Chicken restaurant at Kansas City International Airport’s new terminal. O’Neal co-hosted the event with Mayor Quinton Lucas to commemorate the opening of the restaurant, which is the first Big Chicken in Kansas City and the franchise’s first airport site.
“We are excited to have Shaq’s Big Chicken in Kansas City!” Fox4KC quoted Mayor Lucas saying.
Shaq developed Big Chicken, a restaurant that combines his childhood faves with current trends. After retiring from the NBA, he started his restaurant in Las Vegas in 2018 and eventually extended to Glendale, California.
CNBC reports that the NBA star has personalized his business; one of the sandwiches on the Big Chicken menu is called “Uncle Jerome,” named after Shaq’s uncle, while “Charles Barkley,” another offering on the menu, is named after the former professional basketball player and Shaq’s broadcasting partner on “Inside the NBA.”
READ ALSO: Here Are The Businesses Shaquille O’Neal Has Owned
O’Neal rose from a low-income family in Newark, New Jersey’s “Projects” to become one of the league’s biggest stars. Known as “Shaq” or “The Big Aristotle,” he began playing basketball in high school and later helped his school win the state championship.
He later attended LSU to study business and play basketball for head coach Dale Brown. Shaq has emerged as the top overall draft pick in the 1992 NBA draft class by 1992. He was selected first overall by the Orlando Magic and played in the NBA for 19 years. He was more than just an average NBA player; he rose to become one of the league’s finest centers.
Shaq was named Rookie of the Year in 1992-93 and led the Magic to the NBA Finals in 1995. He eventually signed as a free agency with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he helped the team win three straight NBA titles in 2000, 2001, and 2002. He also won his fourth NBA title in 2006 with the Miami Heat, and he also played for the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics before retiring in 2011.
READ ALSO: Shaquille O’Neal Spends $25K Buying Dinner For Entire Restaurant, Leaves Workers ‘Biggest Ever Tip’
Despite being one of the best players in NBA history, he was nearing the end of his professional career and had his sights set on retirement. During his 19-year NBA career, he amassed $300 million in contracts and now earns millions of dollars every year from his businesses and various endorsement deals with brands such as Icy Hot, Gold Bond, Buick, Zales, and others.