Shaquille O’Neal has always been known for making headlines, but this time he wasn’t talking about dunks, championships, or barbecue chicken.
Instead, the Big Diesel was tipping his cap to one of the smartest business moves in sports history.
During a recent appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter, Shaq shared his thoughts on the reported sale of the Los Angeles Lakers, a franchise that helped define his Hall of Fame career. While many fans focused on the eye-popping price tag, Shaq looked at the deal through the eyes of both a former player and a successful businessman.
And his verdict?
“Golf clap.”
It’s classic Shaq—simple, memorable, and surprisingly accurate.
O’Neal spent eight unforgettable seasons wearing the purple and gold, winning three straight NBA championships alongside Kobe Bryant under the leadership of the Buss family. But while fans remember the trophies and highlight reels, Shaq says he also walked away with something less obvious: valuable business lessons.
“I have great admiration for the Buss family,” O’Neal said. “I learned a lot of business acumen from watching them.”
Those lessons clearly stuck.
Long before “athlete entrepreneur” became a popular phrase, Shaq was quietly building one of the most impressive business portfolios in professional sports. From restaurants and fitness centers to endorsements, technology investments, and his leadership role as President of Reebok Basketball, O’Neal has shown that his success didn’t end when he left the hardwood.
That’s one reason the reported Lakers sale caught his attention.
When Dr. Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers in 1979 as part of a larger sports and entertainment deal, the basketball franchise itself was valued at roughly $16 million. Fast forward nearly five decades, and reports indicate the team has now been sold at a staggering valuation of approximately $12.5 billion.
That’s the kind of return that would make even the savviest investors do a double take.
Shaq certainly noticed.
Rather than getting caught up in the numbers, he applauded the incredible vision it took to build one of the most valuable sports franchises on the planet. His famous “golf clap” wasn’t sarcastic—it was genuine admiration for a family that transformed a basketball team into a global powerhouse.
Of course, rumors have a funny way of spreading whenever the Lakers are involved.
For a brief moment, social media buzzed with false claims suggesting Shaq himself had purchased part of the franchise. As exciting as that sounded to Lakers fans, the reports quickly proved to be nothing more than internet fiction.
Shaq, meanwhile, stayed focused on what mattered most: showing appreciation.
He acknowledged that it will feel different seeing the Lakers enter a new era without the Buss family at the helm, but he also made it clear how grateful he is for everything they accomplished.
After all, those championship seasons weren’t just unforgettable moments in basketball history—they also helped shape the next chapter of Shaq’s own life.
It’s easy to think of Shaquille O’Neal as one of the NBA’s most dominant centers. These days, though, he’s just as comfortable discussing balance sheets as box scores.
And perhaps that’s the biggest lesson he took from Jerry Buss.
Winning championships is great.
Building a legacy that lasts for generations? That’s Hall of Fame material, too.
For Shaq, the Lakers will always represent incredible memories on the court. But thanks to the Buss family, they also became a master class in how to build something truly timeless.