NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal was welcomed in the semifinals of the NBA In-Season Tournament and was featured on the jumbotron. Former stars including Julius “Dr. J” Erving and LaMarcus Aldridge were present, and the fans cheered for all three stars as they were honored by the league. Shaq was filmed waving to the fans when he was smacked on the back of his head by surprise by his son, Shareef. The Indiana Pacers took on the Milwaukee Bucks in the semifinals for the East, while the Lakers played against the New Orleans Pelicans for the West. Shaquille O’Neal and the TNT crew teamed up with ESPN to cover all games for the semis. Shaquille O’Neal named the Bucks as the title favorites for the 2023-24 NBA season and praised their offense and trade for Damian Lillard. He also highlighted their potential as a championship team.
Shaq gets an unexpected smack on the head during Jumbotron feature
