Shaquille O’Neal only ever had two celebrities who made him ‘nervous’ courtside, ‘damn near shot an airball’…

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the biggest players to ever grace the NBA, both literally and figuratively, but even the former Los Angeles Lakers centre had moments of nervousness, at the expense of some Hollywood A-listers.

He won three straight championships with the Los Angeles Lakers alongside Kobe Bryant and added a fourth title with the Miami Heat in 2006.

Shaq was also a 15-time All-Star, league MVP in 2000, and Hall of Fame inductee in 2016.

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Yet despite the ridiculous levels of stardom for one of the best NBA players of all time, the 7 ft 1-inch giant is still human.

Shaquille O’Neal on Shari Headley and Halle Berry

When asked if any celebrities made him ‘nervous’ when they turned up courtside, O’Neal suggested there were two, with the first being Shari Headley.

“You want me to go first? There’s two. First, Shari Headley from Coming to America,” O’Neal told The Big Podcast.

“We’re at The Garden [Madison Square Gardens] and I’m shooting free throws. She’s walking down… I damn near shoot an airball.

“We make eye contact and she gives me a little wink. I go back to the huddle and say, ‘I don’t give a f— what play they call – throw me that motherf—– every time. I’m getting that motherf—– and I’m dunking, and I’m looking for her.’

“And then after the game, she was in the back… with her husband. All that for nothing.”

Alongside Headley, Shaq also named actress Halle Berry as the other to get him a little choked up on the sideline.

He continued: “The second one was Halle Berry. I’m dribbling and I see her walk in and I call a time-out. My heart was going like mad.”

Two very valid reasons. The pair are some of Hollywood’s finest and would make even the greatest of stars tremble a little on the court.

Shaquille O’Neal’s career stats

Even if Shaq did feel a little flustered at times – it very rarely shone through while he was playing. O’Neal’s quite ridiculous career in the NBA is epitomised by some simply ludicrous stats.

Category
Regular Season
Playoffs

Games Played
1,207
216

Points
28,596
5,250

Points Per Game
23.7
24.3

Rebounds
13,099
2,508

Rebounds Per Game
10.9
11.6

Assists
3,026
582

Assists Per Game
2.5
2.7

O’Neal is now all about that pundit lifestyle and continues to be an influential figure in and around the game, and will do so for years to come.