Shaquille O’Neal Finds Out His Former Teammate is Living on the Streets – His Response Will Move You

It was a quiet Sunday morning when Shaquille O’Neal, now a successful businessman, TV personality, and philanthropist, received an unexpected phone call. The voice on the other end was his old teammate from the Los Angeles Lakers, a man who had been a key part of their 2000s championship runs, but whom Shaq hadn’t heard from in years.

“Shaq, it’s Rick,” the voice said. “I hate to call you like this, man, but I’m in trouble.”

Shaquille’s heart sank. Rick Fox, the star of the Lakers’ championship teams, wasn’t one to ask for help—he was always known for his charisma, his confidence, and his ability to light up a room. Something was wrong.

“Rick, what’s going on?” Shaq asked, his voice full of concern.

There was a long pause before Rick spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve lost everything, Shaq. My family, my career… Now, I’m living on the streets. I didn’t know who else to call.”

Shaquille was silent for a moment, processing what Rick had just said. This wasn’t the Rick Fox he knew—the man who had been on top of the world, a basketball champion and media mogul. This was a man who had fallen on hard times, and it struck Shaq deeply.

“Listen, Rick. I’ll be there in a few hours. Don’t move. We’re gonna figure this out.”

Shaq hung up the phone, immediately setting his plans aside to fly out to wherever Rick was. The former Lakers star knew that Rick wasn’t the type to ask for help unless it was truly necessary, and he wasn’t going to let his teammate suffer.

When Shaq arrived, he found Rick sitting on a park bench, huddled in an old coat, looking nothing like the polished man he had been in the NBA. His face was weathered, his eyes tired. It was clear that he had been through far more than anyone could have imagined.

“Rick,” Shaq said, walking up to him. He knelt down and pulled him into a hug. “Man, what happened?”

Rick shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. “I lost it all. The money, the fame, the business. It all just slipped away, and I didn’t know how to get it back. I didn’t think anyone would care.”

Shaq sat down next to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Rick, you’re my brother. You always will be. We’re family. You think I’d let you go through this alone? Hell no.”

Shaquille, known for his big personality and sense of humor, wasn’t joking now. His tone was serious, filled with a raw honesty. “We’ve been through a lot together, man. From championships to everything else. And I’m not gonna let you go out like this.”

Rick looked up at Shaq, his eyes filled with gratitude and disbelief. “Shaq, I don’t know what to say.”

Shaq stood up, offering a hand to Rick. “You don’t have to say anything. I’m getting you out of here. We’re going to get you the help you need. It’s time to rebuild. You’re not alone in this.”

Shaq immediately took action. He called in a team of financial advisors, therapists, and even a couple of old friends from the Lakers organization. Within hours, arrangements were made for Rick to stay at a luxury recovery center that would offer both counseling and financial management to get his life back on track. Shaq also made sure that Rick would have access to a full-time personal assistant to help him with any logistics, including a job interview in the sports media industry.

But Shaq didn’t stop there. He also reached out to several charities and set up a fund to ensure Rick would never face such a struggle again. He reminded him that the world knew him as a champion, and that was more than just basketball.

“It’s time for you to start living like one again,” Shaq told him. “You’ve got a legacy to reclaim. And you’re not doing it alone.”

Over the next several months, Rick slowly began to rebuild his life. With Shaq’s unwavering support and guidance, he found new work in the media, started a new business venture, and, most importantly, began to heal emotionally. Rick found peace in knowing that his old teammate had his back, that he wasn’t forgotten, and that he still had the strength to rise again.

Rick would later share in an interview that it wasn’t just the financial help that made the difference—it was Shaquille’s genuine care, his friendship, and the reminder that no matter how hard life got, there was always a way to bounce back.

“Shaq didn’t just save my life,” Rick said. “He gave me my purpose back. He reminded me that I was worth something, no matter how far I’d fallen.”

And for Shaquille O’Neal, this wasn’t just another act of charity. It was a testament to the kind of person he was—someone who would always stand by his friends, no matter the cost, because that’s what family does.

Shaquille O’Neal didn’t just help Rick Fox rebuild his life—he reminded everyone that true greatness isn’t measured by championships, fame, or wealth. It’s measured by how you lift others up when they need it the most.