He Bullied Shaquille O’Neal in High School—Now He’s Homeless, and What Shaq Did Stuns the World
The streets of downtown Atlanta had always been rough, known for their high crime rates and grimy sidewalks. But on this particular morning, something stood out—a man sitting on the curb, his face weathered, his clothes ragged, but with a hint of familiarity. Sam Ellis, an investigative reporter for a local news station, watched the homeless man from a few feet away. It had been years since he’d seen him, but something about the man triggered a memory.
Sam had covered Atlanta’s underbelly for years, but this story felt different. This wasn’t just another homeless person. This man had a history. As Sam drew closer, realization dawned: this was Tony Matthews, once the star basketball player at their high school. The same Tony Matthews who used to bully Shaquille O’Neal, now a legendary NBA player and larger-than-life personality.
Back in high school, Tony had been the king of the court—popular, arrogant, and using his status as the best athlete to push others around, especially the shy, awkward Shaquille O’Neal. No one could have predicted that Tony’s story would take such a tragic turn.
Sam approached cautiously. “Tony Matthews?” he called softly. Tony looked up, his tired eyes meeting Sam’s. “Yeah, that’s me,” he muttered, his voice a low rasp from years of living rough.
“I know you probably don’t remember me,” Sam began. “But I used to cover sports for the local paper. I remember you from high school. You were the guy who made Shaquille O’Neal’s life hell.”
Tony’s eyes flared for a moment, a flash of anger quickly replaced by resignation. “I wasn’t the only one,” Tony said, almost inaudible. “But yeah, I made his life hard. He wasn’t anything special back then. Just some big, awkward kid with a dream.”
Sam pressed on. “I’m writing a story. I heard about you being out here and it caught my attention. You used to have it all—popularity, a future ahead. What happened?”
Tony’s gaze dropped to the ground. “I had my shot, but I wasted it. Injuries, bad choices, a big ego. I lost everything. Now I’m here, just trying to survive.”
Sam sat down next to Tony, close enough for a real conversation. “You know, there’s a whole generation of people who still remember how you treated Shaq. What do you think he’d say if he saw you now?”
Tony’s face twisted in discomfort. “Maybe he’d be glad I got what I deserved. I wouldn’t blame him. I regret it every damn day. But regret won’t change anything. I did what I did, and now here I am.”
Sam nodded. Tony’s past mistakes clung to him like a shadow. Sam tried to offer hope. “I’m guessing no one’s reached out to help you?”
Tony chuckled darkly. “Why would they? I had my shot. No one owes me anything.”
But Sam wasn’t so sure. He’d heard whispers of Shaquille O’Neal’s soft side—the gentle giant who quietly helped people behind the scenes. Sam’s journalistic instincts told him there was more to Tony’s story.
“I think you’re wrong,” Sam said. “I think someone has reached out to you. Someone who’s been paying attention.”
Tony’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Sam didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he let the silence linger. He had a gut feeling that Shaq might have played a part in Tony’s redemption. But why? Why would Shaq help the man who once tormented him?
Sam left Tony with a promise: “I’ll be in touch.”
Sam began to dig deeper. After a few calls and some well-placed favors, he got a tip from someone at Shaq’s charitable foundation. The next day, Sam found himself at an exclusive gala for the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation. The guest list was tight, but Sam managed to get in, his eyes scanning the crowd for the big man himself.
Finally, Shaq entered, towering above the crowd, his deep laughter echoing across the room. Sam worked his way toward him, heart pounding.
“Mr. O’Neal,” Sam said, “I’ve been looking into someone you might know—Tony Matthews.”
Shaq paused, his eyes briefly scanning Sam’s face. There was a moment of recognition, then indifference. “I don’t know anyone by that name,” Shaq said flatly.
“You do,” Sam pressed. “High school, Newark. Tony Matthews. He was the one who made your life miserable.”
For a moment, Shaq’s gaze softened. He motioned for his security to move the conversation to a quiet corner. “All right,” Shaq finally said. “I know who you’re talking about. But what’s he got to do with me now?”
“I found him,” Sam said quietly. “He’s living on the streets. His life fell apart after everything he did to you.”
Shaq took a slow breath, clearly conflicted. “Tony’s life isn’t my problem. I’ve moved on.”
“But that’s not the full story, is it?” Sam pressed. “I’ve heard whispers that you’ve helped him in ways no one else knows about.”
Shaq was silent for a long moment. “I don’t do things for the press. Not every act of kindness should be a headline. What I’ve done for Tony stays between us.”
Sam nodded, respecting Shaq’s privacy. “But people deserve to know that redemption is possible. Your gesture might be the thing that changes everything for him.”
Shaq’s voice softened. “Tony might have been a bully. But what matters now is what we do with that pain. Sometimes the people who hurt you the most are the ones who need help the most.”
“You’ve been helping him?” Sam asked.
“Yes,” Shaq said. “I don’t want to be a hero. I just want Tony to find his way back. He needs a second chance.”
Sam was struck by the quiet intensity in Shaq’s voice. This wasn’t about Shaq’s redemption. It was about Tony’s.
As the days passed, Sam watched Tony’s progress. He found work as a janitor at a local gym, slowly rebuilding his life. In the quietest way possible, Tony began to climb out of the hole he’d fallen into.
A few months later, Sam received a call from Tony. “I’m coaching kids now. Helping out at a community center. I feel like I’m doing something that matters.”
The man who once tormented Shaquille O’Neal was now helping kids learn the sport he’d once loved, teaching them lessons that transcended basketball. It wasn’t about winning or losing—it was about finding purpose.
Tony never became famous again. He never returned to the courts of his youth, but he found something more important than fame: peace. And through that peace, he began to help others, just as Shaq had helped him.
As for Shaquille O’Neal, his acts of kindness remained quiet. Sam could have written the story, but he chose to honor Shaq’s request for privacy. Sometimes the most powerful stories are the ones left untold.
At a charity game organized by Shaq’s foundation, Tony was invited to watch from the sidelines. He realized his life had come full circle. He had been given a chance to change, and now he was giving that same chance to others. In his quiet way, Shaquille O’Neal had given Tony the greatest gift of all—the opportunity to be more than just a past mistake.
And that, in the end, was enough.
7’1″ Shaquille O’Neal talked about how he was bullied in school
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal shared how school wasn’t an easy time for him as kids used to bully him and call nicknames
School is a place that is crucial for a child’s development. We learn how to grow up and live in a society and how to deal with adversities. While some claim school was the best time of their life, most people say otherwise.
Let’s face it, kids are mean. They often have no filter and say the first thing that comes to mind. When you’re a young kid struggling with issues of any kind, the horrible kids would find the same and mock you for it.
The case was no different for Shaquille O’Neal. Despite growing to 6 feet before even turning 12, Shaq had a hard time staying away from bullies. At one point, it got so bad that Shaq was doubting himself about every single thing and had significant self-esteem issues.
Shaquille O’Neal opens up about being bullied in school
Growing up, Shaquille O’Neal was quite different from the other kids. He grew much taller, and was much bigger than the rest. Kids being as ruthless as they are, decided this is something they should make fun of.
In an interview with Graham Bensinger, Shaq opened up about getting bullied in school.
“Shaq-Kwil, Sasquatch, Big African. So I stuttered when I talked. Big dummy. I was always shy. I would look at you, you know, look at your test scores, you look like a smart-. You’d probably have an 80 or a 90. I was intimidated by that.”
Getting these image issues set in your head right from childhood can become a life-long issue that becomes very hard to overcome. Thankfully, the big fella found a way around, becoming one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the NBA.
