Shaquille O'Neal eyeing potential stake in West Ham United after 'loving' visit
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Basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal is reportedly in discussions to invest in Premier League football club West Ham United. The NBA superstar, known for his diverse business portfolio, is keen on owning a piece of one of England's most historic teams.
The ex-Los Angeles Lakers star was spotted at a game at the London Stadium last season and, as per The Sun, he's contemplating becoming the latest North American celebrity to invest in British football. Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have seen massive success since their acquisition of Welsh club Wrexham in 2021.
This trend has been followed by several others, with seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady owning a stake in third-tier club Birmingham City, while actor Will Ferrell and golfing champions Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are investors in Leeds United.
"Shaq loves British football and he has been talking about putting some serious cash into the club," an unnamed source revealed to The Sun. "He went to a game at the end of the season and loved it. It's now a case of whether the financials stack up for him. Shaq is really interested in what deal he could strike."
Shaq's successful career isn't limited to the court, where he won four NBA titles and was named finals MVP three times. He's also made a series of savvy business moves post-retirement.
The 52-year-old tycoon, boasting a net worth of around $500 million, made a savvy investment in Ring doorbells, snapping up an equity stake for a cool $1m. His business acumen paid off when the company was snapped up by Amazon for a whopping $1 billion. His portfolio doesn't stop there; he's got his fingers in pies like Reebok, JC Penny and Lyft.
Over at West Ham, there's a cluster of key shareholders holding the reins. Topping the list is David Sullivan, who owns a hefty 38.8 percent slice of the club. The 75-year-old amassed his wealth through the adult entertainment industry. Not far behind is Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, clutching 27 percent of the Hammers.
The basketball icon isn't just a legend on the court; he's also nailed it as a broadcaster. However, the much-loved "Inside The NBA" is teetering on the brink due to a tussle over broadcasting rights. Warner Bros. Discovery, which runs TNT, hasn't managed to clinch the NBA broadcast rights post-2025 season.
TNT has been shooting hoops with the NBA for years, but it looks like they might be benched soon. A fresh rights agreement with Disney the bigwig behind ESPN and ABC along with new players NBC and Amazon, could see TNT sidelined.
This spells trouble for "Inside The NBA", helmed by Ernie Johnson and featuring a dream team panel including O'Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith, potentially marking the show's final buzzer.
Since its inception in 1989, the show has become a highly respected sports programme on television, bagging 19 Sports Emmy Awards. Amidst the uncertainty, Barkley has declared that the upcoming season will be his final one as a broadcaster. With O'Neal likely to have more free time, it's anticipated that he'll be spotted at Premier League matches more frequently in the future.