“Cut That Nasty Stuff Out, Man” — Cedric Ceballos Says Shaq’s Locker Room Humor Knew No Limits
Shaquille O’Neal’s legend extends far beyond the basketball court. While his dominance as the NBA’s most unstoppable big man is cemented in highlight reels and record books, those who shared locker rooms with Shaq know there’s another side to the Diesel—a side that’s mischievous, outrageous, and, at times, downright disgusting. Cedric Ceballos, a former teammate on the Los Angeles Lakers, recently peeled back the curtain on Shaq’s locker room antics, revealing a playful giant with a penchant for pranks that often crossed the line from funny to filthy.
A Dominant Force With a Childlike Spirit
On the court, Shaq was a nightmare for opponents. Standing 7’1” and weighing over 300 pounds, he combined the agility of a guard with the brute force of a bulldozer. Coaches schemed for weeks to slow him down, and defenders often ended up on the wrong side of a poster dunk. But off the court, especially behind closed doors, Shaq’s approach was less about intimidation and more about entertainment—often at the expense of his teammates’ comfort.
Cedric Ceballos, who played with Shaq during the 1996-97 Lakers season, remembered those days with a mix of laughter and exasperation. “He was a handful to guard,” Ceballos admitted, “but he was just as much of a handful in the locker room. Maybe even more.”
Locker Room Tales: Shaq’s Filthy Sense of Humor
Ceballos’ most vivid memories of Shaq aren’t from game-winning plays or thunderous dunks, but from the locker room, where Shaq’s humor knew no limits. “Shaq is in there doing… he can’t fit in the stall anyway and everybody who walked by, he’s like he’s showing his shit,” Ceballos recalled, shaking his head at the recollection. “I’m like, ‘Dude, are you serious, bro? Are you serious?’ He always would play with feces for some reason. I’m like, ‘Shaq, stop!’”
For most NBA players, pranks might mean filling a car with popcorn or wrapping a teammate’s gear in Saran Wrap. For Shaq, the line was much further out—and he had no qualms about crossing it. “Like you know, what are you going to do with 7’1″, 300 lb that’s trying to put some feces on you?” Ceballos mused. “I’m trying to be clean right now for the fans and the kids, but he always wanted to. Like, ‘Stop it, man. Stop playing with the s—t, man. Come on!’”
It wasn’t just Ceballos who fell victim to Shaq’s bathroom-based humor. Stories circulated about Shaq messing with Lou Amundson’s mouthpiece, or even taking a dump in Devean George’s sneaker. These weren’t isolated incidents—they were part of a larger pattern, a kind of running joke that only Shaq seemed to find endlessly amusing.
No One Was Safe, Not Even Legends
Shaq’s antics didn’t stop with his teammates. Even the Lakers’ legendary play-by-play announcer, Chick Hearn, wasn’t immune. Byron Scott, another Lakers veteran, recalled a particularly outrageous episode involving Hearn and a team bus bathroom.
“So, Chick Hearn had to use the bathroom on the bus and he was trying to run to get to the restroom and Shaq put his feet out and tripped him, and Chick ended up s—ting on himself,” Byron recounted, still incredulous after all these years. “Now I don’t know if Diesel— I don’t know if you still got those drawers or not— but is that story true or not? Because I mean I’ve heard a bunch of stories about Shaq and s—t,” he said, half-laughing, half-groaning at the memory.
According to Scott, as Chick tried to gather himself inside the cramped bus restroom, Shaq went in, grabbed the stained underwear, and placed them in a plastic bag. Whether Shaq kept the infamous “souvenir” remains a mystery, but the story itself has become part of NBA folklore—a testament to Shaq’s boundary-pushing sense of humor.
The Method Behind the Madness
Why did Shaq gravitate toward such outrageous pranks? For some, it was a way to break the tension of an NBA season. The relentless grind, the pressure to perform, and the constant media scrutiny can wear down even the most resilient athletes. Shaq, with his booming laugh and irrepressible energy, seemed to instinctively know when the team needed a lift—even if his methods were unconventional.
“He just wanted everyone to have fun,” Ceballos explained. “He was like a big kid. You could be having the worst day, and Shaq would do something so ridiculous you’d have to laugh, even if you were mad at first.”
But not everyone appreciated Shaq’s brand of humor. Some teammates found his pranks disgusting, others downright disrespectful. Yet, almost all agreed that Shaq’s heart was in the right place. He wasn’t mean-spirited; he just had a different threshold for what counted as “fun.”
A Prankster With a Heart of Gold
Despite the gross-out gags, Shaq was beloved by his teammates. He was generous, loyal, and fiercely protective of his friends. For every story about a bathroom prank, there were two more about Shaq picking up a dinner tab, helping a rookie adjust to NBA life, or quietly supporting a teammate through personal struggles.
His pranks, while sometimes over the top, were part of a larger-than-life persona that made him one of the most popular players in league history. Fans loved his playful interviews, his willingness to dance and joke on camera, and his refusal to take himself too seriously.
Legacy of Laughter
Today, as Shaq enjoys a successful post-basketball career as a broadcaster, entrepreneur, and entertainer, the stories from his playing days continue to circulate. For every tale of dominance on the court, there’s a locker room legend that keeps fans and former teammates laughing—and sometimes cringing.
Cedric Ceballos summed it up best: “Cut that nasty stuff out, man. But that was Shaq. You never knew what he was going to do next. And honestly, the league was a lot more fun because of it.”
In the end, Shaquille O’Neal’s legacy isn’t just about championships and MVPs. It’s about the joy he brought to the game—and the unforgettable, outrageous stories that will be told for generations.
