Shaquille O’Neal is known for being a man of epic proportions in every sense: an epic basketball career, an epic business empire, and an epic collection of custom cars. But even a legend like the Big Diesel can sometimes be a glutton for punishment, as evidenced by his hilariously valiant attempt to squeeze into the unlikeliest of vehicles: a tiny Smart car.
This wasn’t just a random roadside challenge; it was all part of the fun for an episode of Apple TV’s Carpool Karaoke. And who better to witness this monumental automotive mismatch than fellow giant and good-sport, former WWE star and actor John Cena?
The scene was set: one of the world’s most massive athletes, standing a commanding 7’1″, facing off against a car famous for being, well, the absolute opposite of commanding. It was a heavyweight vs. featherweight bout for the ages, and the Smart car was definitely not built to handle two heavyweights.
Shaq, bless his heart, gave it the Big Diesel effort. He bent, he contorted, and he somehow managed to get his torso into the driver’s seat. John Cena, ever the supportive friend, offered an encouraging, “I think you can do it, just bend a little bit.” But Shaq’s legs? They seemed to have ideas of their own, ending up in a place no driver’s legs should ever be: the dashboard.
Honestly, you’ve got to see the video of this experience… click here!
The image of two massive superstars trying to occupy the same small, city-friendly cabin is pure comedy gold. The journey was doomed before the key was even turned. After some squeezing, shifting, and a lot of laughs, the duo had to admit defeat, both declaring, “We need a bigger car!” It’s a moment that proves even a four-time NBA champion can’t defy the laws of physics, or at least the laws of vehicle design.
Of course, the internet ate it up. Social media was flooded with users cracking jokes, marveling at the absurdity of the scene. One fan quipped that the two men could probably just pick up the car, which honestly, seems plausible. It was a fun fiasco, a genuinely good-natured moment that only Shaq could pull off—always ready to laugh at himself and embrace a challenge, no matter how ridiculously small.
Fortunately, Shaq’s daily commute is far less cramped. The man is a self-proclaimed “not-so-secret gearhead” who knows that sometimes, size really does matter. His private fleet is legendary, boasting over 40 high-value, high-powered vehicles, from a Corvette to a Ram TRX. But here’s the key (pun intended): every single one of them is meticulously customized.
Shaq has a dedicated team of experts who work on his cars, ensuring the seats are modified, the cabins are spacious, and the entire driving experience is safe and comfortable. This is a man who literally cannot walk into a showroom and drive a car off the lot, and he embraces that uniqueness.
His Smart car moment, while a bust for the Carpool Karaoke drive, was a huge win for his fans. It’s a reminder that no matter how big his world gets, Shaq is always down to try something new, even if it means a little friendly—and hilarious—defeat at the hands of the humblest car on the road.