Shaquille O’Neal reveals astonishing NBA pregame ritual which included staying up until 4am and odd food and drink

SHAQUILLE O’Neal has revealed his odd pregame ritual from NBA playing days.

The Los Angeles Lakers icon said he stayed up until the early morning hours to make sure he was in top form on the court the following day.

NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal has revealed his bizarre pregame ritual
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has revealed his bizarre pregame ritualCredit: Instagram/BigPodWithShaq

O'Neal said he stayed up until the early morning hours before games to make sure he was in top form on the court
O’Neal said he stayed up until the early morning hours before games to make sure he was in top form on the courtCredit: Getty
O’Neal, 51, remembered how he would typically spend the evening before an NBA game as he hosted Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson his The Big podcast.

Iverson recalled how his former head coach Jim O’Brien suspended him for the next game against the Miami Heat during the 2004-05 season because of a late night out.

Shaq then chimed in, saying it’s a myth that athletes need to go to sleep early to be able to perform at a high level.

“I never go to bed early,” he said while pointing out it didn’t mean he was partying all night.

“Ever since [I was] 18 years old, I’ve never went to bed before 12 o’clock.”

The revelation seemed to have caught Iverson by surprise as the ex-guard pointed out that many of the NBA games start at 7 pm local time.

“That’s what I’m saying, you can take a nap,” Shaq explained.

“That was my thing, stay out all night, right?

“Like just 4:00 [am]. Get up at 10:00 [am]. Go to shootaround, mess around, come back.

“Two turkey clubs, fries and a pineapple soda, and then I’ll sleep the four hours.”

While O’Neal’s nighttime routine might seem bizarre to some, he still managed to dominate his opponents on a daily basis, the four-time NBA champ pointed out.

“That’s what I need before the game,” Shaq said.

 

Shaq visibly bemused live on Inside The NBA as TNT reporter recycles Charles Barkley gag and uses it on him
“Like if I get that three hours [of sleep] before the game, no matter what I did the night before, I’m killing somebody.

“They always try to make a big deal of him going out but…”

O’Neal added that when he actually tried to go to bed early, he wasn’t at his best the following game.

Shaq received the 2000 NBA MVP award in addition to three Finals MVP titles, 15 All-Star nods, and 14 All-NBA honors during his 19 seasons in the league.

Related Posts

Jesse Watters Causes Uproar with “Phony” Comments About Soccer Fans—What Did He Really Mean, and Why Are Fans Furious?

Fox News commentator Jesse Watters branded male soccer fans ‘phony’ in a bizarre rant that baffled many on social media. Watters appeared on The Five on Monday…

EXCLUSIVE: Sandra Smith’s Marriage and Career on the Brink—Can She Navigate the Pressure and Keep It All Together?

Sandra Smith, the celebrated Fox News host, has been a familiar face on television for years. Her charismatic presence on America’s Newsroom and The Five has garnered…

From a young reporter at FOX News to an icon of political journalism! How did Hillary Vaughn prove herself through each impressive step?

Hillary Vaughn: From Young Reporter to Political Journalism Icon at FOX News Hillary Vaughn, one of the prominent reporters at FOX News, has had an impressive journey…

Dana Perino’s $85 Million Net Worth REVEALED—But Her Lavish Spending Habits and Shocking Scam Allegations Are Stirring Major Controversy

Dana Perino, former White House Press Secretary and current Fox News anchor, has amassed an incredible fortune throughout her career, which has made headlines recently due to…

Breaking News: Whoopi Goldberg, Megan Rapinoe, and Taylor Swift Announce They Are Leaving the U.S. – Fans Left Stunned and Confused!

Three of America’s most influential women—Whoopi Goldberg, Megan Rapinoe, and Taylor Swift—have sparked a nationwide conversation about possibly leaving the U.S. in search of more progressive and…

Rachel Maddow’s Public Criticism of MSNBC Executives Backfires—Ratings Dive as She Blames Network Leadership for Viewership Decline

Rachel Maddow’s Criticism of MSNBC Bosses Backfires Spectacularly as Her Ratings Take a Major Hit Rachel Maddow, the prominent host of MSNBC’s flagship evening news program, has…