Shaquille O’Neal, one of the most dominant players in NBA history, recently shared a surprising and personal reason behind his decision to attend Louisiana State University (LSU).
While many assumed his choice was driven by the university’s strong basketball program and the influence of coach Dale Brown, Shaq revealed a more personal motivation during a recent podcast appearance.
Shaq admitted that his decision to join LSU was significantly influenced by a girl named Madison.
“There was this one girl named Madison, she was so goddamn fine,” Shaq recalled.
Shaq’s journey to LSU began when he was just 13 years old, living on an army base in Germany. Coach Dale Brown spotted the young Shaq and was immediately impressed by his size and potential. However, it wasn’t just the basketball opportunities that drew Shaq to LSU. During a visit to the campus, he was captivated by the enthusiastic crowd and, more specifically, by Madison, a senior at the time.
“She was a senior, she was 24. I was like, ‘damn, you’re so beautiful.’ And she’s like, ‘yeah, you come here. I’ll tutor you.’ I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do with you,'” Shaq shared.
Shaq on the real reason he went to LSU:
“It was one girl named Madison… She was so goddamn fine… She was a senior, she was 24. I was like, ‘damn, you’re so beautiful’. And she’s like, ‘yeah, you come here. I’ll tutor you’. I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do with you’.… pic.twitter.com/Ek8GCX8CYH
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 22, 2024
Shaq went on to have an illustrious college career at LSU, becoming a two-time SEC Player of the Year and a two-time All-American. His success at LSU paved the way for his legendary NBA career, where he won four NBA championships and earned numerous accolades.
