Shaquille O’Neal caused concern among fans when the “NBA on TNT” analyst shared a photo of himself in a hospital bed over the weekend. He provided zero context as to why he was there, which made fans go crazy thinking something was seriously wrong.
The Newark native who won four NBA titles in a Hall of Fame career tweeted a photo of himself in a hospital bed on Sunday night.
“i’m always watching (TNT studio host Ernie Johnson) and (TNT studio analyst Candace Parker) miss y’all,” O’Neal tweeted.
i’m always watching @TurnerSportsEJ and @Candace_Parker miss y’all pic.twitter.com/4tY4X6v1Pj
— SHAQ (@SHAQ) March 19, 2023
According to TMZ Sports, the 51-year-old big man underwent a scheduled procedure on his hip and is currently recovering.
Shaquille O'Neal sparked concern after sharing a photo of him in a hospital bed Sunday, but TMZ Sports has learned he underwent planned hip surgery … and is now on the mend. https://t.co/CV0Blj4b8Y
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) March 20, 2023
It was just earlier this month when O’Neal was sitting courtside at the Big 12 basketball tournament championship game between the Texas Longhorns and Kansas Jayhawks at T-Mobile Center.
O’Neal signed an extension with Turner in October. They announced it “reached agreements with all four members of TNT’s iconic Inside the NBA studio show – Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal – to ensure the team will remain together for many years to come.”
There is no word on when the four-time NBA champion will be able to return to the broadcast.
