Shaquille O'Neal: 'I don't want to be a celebrity anymore' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc. - Scanpix Credit Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc. - Scanpix

Four-time NBA champion, three-time Finals MVP, 15-time All-Star, and the 2000 NBA MVP Shaquille O'Neal is one of the most famous basketball players of all time. However, Shaq says that he no longer wants to be a celebrity.

Shaquille O'Neal

Position:CAge:49Height:216 cmWeight:147 kgBirth place:United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

"These celebrities are going freaking crazy, and I don't want to be one. I denounce my celebrity-ness today. I'm done with it," the big man said to the New York Post.

"I don't want to be in that category. Celebrities are crazy, they really are. Don't call me that anymore. These people are out of their freaking mind with how they treat people, what they do, what they say. That's never been me. I never want to be looked at like that."

O'Neal explained that after coming from humble beginnings, he wants to stay grounded and on the same level as regular people.

"I came from nothing. But, just because I made it doesn't mean I'm bigger than you, smarter than you - just because I have more money doesn't mean I'm better than you. I've never been that way, and I never will be that way. So I don't want to be in that category of people," Shaq said.

"When they talk about Shaq, what do you say? 'He's a nice guy.' Because what else can you be? You're either nice, or you're the A-word, and I definitely won't be looked at as the A-word.

"I want people to say, 'Bro, he's nice. He didn't have an entourage. His people didn't take my phone because I took a picture and threw it.'"

O'Neal frequently donates time and money to charitable causes. This August, he donated $1 million to the Boys and Girls Club of America to create technology centers in Clubs nationwide, in partnership with Microsoft Corporation.

He also recently backed out of a five-year, $40 million deal with Reebok to start his own brand and produce affordable sneakers.

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