Kenny Smith’s loss to Stephen A. Smith was so embarrassing that Shaquille O’Neal’s got covered up. Yep, following the free throw contest between Stephen and Kenny, SAS and Shaq entered a quick three-point showdown. The first one to sink one in wins and once again it was the ESPN analyst. This, however, might not have been a surprise considering Shaq hit just 1 three pointer in his NBA career. And now his lack of shooting skills has reflected again, though his involvement behind the scenes of the contest could overshadow.
A video shared by Campus’ official Instagram account showed Shaq in another lighthearted contest, this time with someone casually landing an and-one shot over him. The caption said it all: “nbd just our campus merch designer hitting the and one over Shaq.”
Yes, even off the court, Shaquille O’Neal just can’t seem to catch a break. Yet, these moments aren’t just about the jokes.
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View this post on Instagram A post shared by Campus (@campus)
Earlier this year, the former LA Lakers star partnered with Campus as an investor, bringing his massive influence to a cause close to his heart—education. Campus highlighted his belief in the transformative power of learning, saying, “Shaq brings his enormous influence and his belief that education has the power to help people build the lives that they want.”
And true to his larger-than-life persona, Shaq didn’t just sign on for the name recognition. Together with Campus, he launched the “Try College” initiative, offering 500 students free courses taught by top professors. With college enrollments declining and fewer students transitioning from high school to higher education, as per an official release by Campus.edu, this program is a timely effort to boost confidence and spark aspirations.
“What we’re seeing today is too many kids wondering if college is still worth it. These students either feel like they aren’t college material or believe the price tag is out of reach, and that’s a shame,” said O’Neal, as per a press release by Campus.
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“We believe everyone should have access to higher learning, and with that in mind, we’re making college classes available for free so that hundreds of students have the opportunity to show the world what they can do,” the ex-Lakers star added. From the “Try College” initiative and the recent IG video shared by Campus, it’s clear O’Neal is taking an active involvement than just being a sit-out investor.
Shaquille O’Neal’s motivation and how the partnership with Campus came into being?
Big Diesel’s partnership with Campus was a result of a chance connection. According to Campus Chancellor Tade Oyerinde, it all started with an email that almost didn’t get answered. “After our initial success with fundraising, Forbes did a story on us. Someone on Shaq’s team saw it, and they reached out. Honestly, I thought the email was fake, but we followed up, and it was real,” Oyerinde shared, in a Forbes article.
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As for Shaq, his motivation stems from a guiding principle he has followed for years. Reflecting on advice from Jeff Bezos, he said, “”If you invest in things that are going to change people’s lives, you always have a great outcome.”” Based on the same chain of thought, his meeting with Oyerinde in Las Vegas sealed the deal.
What won Shaquille O’Neal over in the meeting? “When he said ‘debt-free degrees’” as well as access to some of the best professors. It wasn’t just about the numbers—it was about changing lives. Something to which the 4x NBA champ is taking an active involvement in with Campus.