Shaquille O'Neal Joins Sacramento State Basketball

Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal has agreed to become the unpaid, voluntary general manager of Sacramento State’s men’s basketball program, where his son Shaqir O’Neal will play for new head coach and former NBA rival Mike Bibby. The move comes after Sacramento State finished a 7-25 season and has yet to make an NCAA Tournament appearance since joining Division I in 1991-92. O’Neal’s appointment follows a trend of high-profile athletes, such as Stephen Curry and Trae Young, taking management roles in college programs. As a former Sacramento Kings minority owner and four-time NBA champion, O’Neal is expected to help with recruiting and program development. The university is investing in athletics, including plans for new facilities, and sees this partnership as a significant step forward. The collaboration reunites two figures from the Lakers-Kings rivalry to boost the Hornets' struggling basketball program.