Former NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal said on a recent episode of his The Big Podcast With Shaq that he understands Kanye West’s recent outbursts and behavior because he was once in that state.
The former Los Angeles Lakers star’s spat with the rapper and fashion designer stems from O’Neal criticizing Kyrie Irving after the Brooklyn Nets player shared a tweet about an anti-Semitic film.
“Sometimes it hurts me that we have to sit here and talk about things that divide the game. Now, we have to answer for what this idiot has done,” O’Neal had said on TNT, per MARCA.
Following Shaq’s remarks about Irving, Kanye – now known as Ye – took to Twitter to question the retired basketball star’s business ventures. Kanye appeared to accuse Canadian billionaire Jamie Salter of cheating Shaq in the tweet. Salter is the founder of ABG, a firm that specializes in brand development, marketing, and entertainment.
“Shaq is in business with Jamie Salter,” Kanye shared on Twitter. “Jaimie first said he’s 50/50 with David Beckham and 50/50 with Shaq I said ‘Jamie… There is no such thing as 50/50 in business… Who has the extra 1 percent for control and voting rights.”
But Shaq responded, tweeting: “Believe me you don’t know me like that,” he said. “Worry about your business, and to quote the once great Kanye west ‘I got more money than you, so why would I listen to you’ take my advice get your family business in order. Have a good day, brother.”
And though things between the two have since simmered, Shaq recently touched on the College Dropout rapper’s behavior, saying he was once in that state.
“When I look at Kanye, I say you know what, I know what he’s going through. You know why I know what he’s going through? Because I used to be a narcissist,” Shaq said. “First example, when you’re a narcissist, mom takes the kids away from you. Second example, when you’re a narcissist, things start disappearing.”
The 50-year-old said he eventually matured after his divorce and his ex-wife left with their children. “When my mother left, when my children left, when my career ended,” he recalled. “How do you fix that?” You must be humble. That’s how I got to where I am now. I don’t judge people because I’m a minor.”