Shaquille O’Neal let the world know he’s still got it at 54.
The retired four-time NBA Champion has long since left the NBA hardwood behind, but he isn’t letting retirement slow him down.
Between endorsement deals and television appearances, the basketball legend stays on his feet and makes the most of the opportunities he earned.
Now, he’s bringing that same larger-than-life confidence to his latest flex — and taking a playful jab at a Hollywood actor in the process.
Now, it appears O’Neal is taking inspiration from his longtime friend, “Terminator” actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The two have been friends since 1993 and worked together in the 1990s on a youth philanthropy initiative called After-School All-Stars, formerly known as the Inner-City Games Foundation.
But the Friday, Oct. 9, TikTok clip left fans stunned and poking fun at O’Neal after they noticed the equipment he had packed.
“Here I come Arnold Shaqanager,” he wrote, combining his name with Schwarzenegger’s in the caption.
The 86-second video shows O’Neal shirtless as he starts his workout on a cable crossover machine to work his muscles. At one point, he stares into the camera with a focused, determined expression.
Later, he switches to the cable pulldown machine, then flexes his back muscles to wrap up the clip.
But fans seemed stuck on the first half, as many noticed something that left them stunned.
O’Neal’s gray shorts appeared to bulge as he moved back while using the cable crossover machine. Both sides of the shorts shifted forward as he pulled back, though the left side appeared to protrude more noticeably.
Schwarzenegger hasn’t responded to the video, but fans who did had a lot to say about Shaq’s physique and his career.
“Shaq at 54 moving more weight than half these dudes half his age is honestly embarrassing for them,” said one supporter. Another person joked, “So you mean he can still play in the NBA?? Hes better now than 2010-2011 Boston celtics Shaq??”
The jokes continued, with some people claiming Shaq’s height and build made him “too big for that machine.” Another said, “Imagine if Shaq had put half of this energy when he was with the Lakers.”
“C’mon he’s not terrible but he’s not in ‘great’ shape,” another Shaq fan noted.
Given O’Neal’s imposing build, some people have speculated about how his size translates to his private life. The former NBA star stands 7 feet, 1 inch tall and wears a size 22 wide shoe.
O’Neal’s focus on staying in shape comes as the NBA legend has also attracted attention for being spotted with younger women. Maintaining his physique may help him keep up with his active lifestyle, proving that the 54-year-old isn’t ready to slow down just yet.
During O’Neal’s 2022 appearance on “The Pivot,” former NFL star and co-host of the podcast, Channing Crowder, inquired about the subject.
Crowder asked how O’Neal’s height affects his sex life. O’Neal used two bottles to explain his reasoning, then joked that women need to arch their backs a little.
The former NBA star has six children, which made the joke even more amusing.
O’Neal welcomed his first child, Taahirah, 30, with his ex-girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh. After their relationship ended, he later married Shaunie O’Neal and became the stepfather of her son, Myles, 29.
The two went on to have four children: Shareef, 26; Amirah, 24; Shaqir, 22; and Me’arah, 20.
