Shaqir O'Neal, son of Shaquille O'Neal, wins college slam dunk contest: Highlights Sacramento State forward Shaqir O'Neal, the son of legendary NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, claimed victory in the College Slam Dunk Championship on April 3 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The event took place during the Men's Final Four, where Shaqir outperformed competitors with a combination of athleticism and creativity. His winning dunk featured an elbow-over-two-players maneuver and a reverse finish on his final attempt, securing the win against Central Connecticut's Nico Ashley. Shaqir finished with two 50-point scores, the maximum possible in the competition, showcasing his dominance in the event. After his victory, Shaqir expressed his excitement and gratitude, addressing his father directly. "Dad, I know you're watching this," he said. "You said you have ($10,000) for me if I win this. So, hey, I'm expecting my money. Shoutout to my pops." The quote highlights the personal significance of the win for Shaqir, who has long been in the shadow of his father's legendary career. Shaqir's performance in the dunk contest was a standout moment in his college basketball journey. During the regular season, he averaged 5.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game for Sacramento State. His collegiate career began at Texas Southern, where he played off the bench for two seasons before transferring to Florida A&M in 2024-25. This season, he joined Sacramento State under head coach Mike Bibby, a former Sacramento Kings player and a former teammate of his father. Bibby, who took over as head coach this season, praised the team's culture and the support he and his staff provided to players. "It's been an unreal experience," Shaqir told USA TODAY Sports. "Coach Bibby and his staff really care about the players, just on and off the court.#indianapolis #hinkle_fieldhouse #shaquille_oneal #shaqir_oneal #mike_bibby
Shaqir O'Neal Wins 2026 College Dunk Contest, Top Highlights and Reaction Sacramento State forward Shaqir O'Neal secured victory in the 2026 State Farm College Slam Dunk Championships on Friday in Indianapolis, defeating six other competitors in a highly anticipated showdown. The 22-year-old, son of Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, faced a fierce challenge from Nico Ashley of Central Connecticut in the finals, with both athletes delivering standout performances that captivated the audience. O'Neal’s win marked a significant milestone in his collegiate career, solidifying his reputation as one of the most electrifying dunkers in the sport. The competition featured a diverse field of athletes, including Bryson Dawkins of Youngstown St., Jaylin Henderson of Portland St., LaJae Jones of Florida St., William Kyle of Syracuse, and Sam Phipps of UT-Tyler. O'Neal’s path to the championship was defined by his dominance in the semifinals, where he scored 89 out of a possible 100 points over two dunks, narrowly edging out Ashley’s 88. The semifinal round set the stage for an intense final, with both competitors showcasing their technical prowess and creativity. In the finals, Ashley began with a commanding performance, earning a perfect 50 points for a reverse slam off the side of the backboard over Kyle and a cameraman. O'Neal responded with a signature honey dip, a move reminiscent of his father’s iconic 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest performance, but executed with added flair by clearing two players—Kyle and Chauncey Wiggins of Florida State—during the maneuver. Ashley’s second dunk attempt, however, faltered as he struggled to complete a successful move before time ran out, leaving him without a second score.#indianapolis #shaquille_oneal #shaqir_oneal #central_connecticut #state_farm_college_slam_dunk_championships
Shaqir O'Neal, Son of Shaquille, Triumphs in College Slam Dunk Contest April 4, 2026, 11:43 a.m. ET Sacramento State forward Shaqir O'Neal, the son of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, captured the College Slam Dunk Championship on Friday, April 3, at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis during the Men’s Final Four. The 6-foot-8 forward, who wore his father’s “Shaq” shoe brand, delivered a standout performance by elbow-dunking over two opponents and executing a reverse dunk on his final attempt to defeat Central Connecticut’s Nico Ashley. His victory earned him two 50-point scores, the maximum possible in a single dunk contest. After securing the win, Shaqir O’Neal addressed the crowd, saying, “Dad, I know you’re watching this. You said you have ($10,000) for me if I win this. So, hey, I’m expecting my money. Shoutout to my pops.” The moment underscored the personal significance of the achievement for the young athlete, who has long been in the shadow of his father’s iconic basketball career. The contest also saw DePaul’s CJ Gunn claim victory in the men’s 3-point competition, while Kansas’ Elle Evans dominated the women’s 3-point contest. Evans, a standout performer, also won the team shooting competition alongside Purdue’s Fletcher Loyer and Portland State’s Jaylin Henderson. Her dominance extended to the 3-point shootout between champions, where she defeated Gunn in a thrilling showdown. Shaqir O’Neal’s performance in the dunk contest was a highlight of his collegiate career, which has included notable milestones. This season, he averaged 5.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game for Sacramento State. His journey to the NCAA tournament began at Texas Southern, where he played a limited role off the bench for two seasons before transferring to Florida A&M in 2024-25.#indianapolis #hinkle_fieldhouse #shaquille_oneal #shaqir_oneal #central_connecticut
Shaq Responds to Flirting Rumors with Sabrina Carpenter, Calls Out Viral DM Claims Shaquille O’Neal has dismissed rumors that he sent flirtatious messages to singer Sabrina Carpenter, calling the speculation “youngsters” focused on “the algorithm and going viral.” The NBA legend, 54, addressed the claims during a March 20 episode of his podcast, The Big Podcast, where he laughed off the alleged text exchanges. The rumors, which surfaced earlier this month, claimed Shaq had slid into Carpenter’s DMs with playful, suggestive messages. During the podcast, he read aloud fabricated texts, including one that read, “Damn, baby, I would keep your farts in a cologne bottle and spray it on me every day,” followed by a response from Carpenter: “I know who you are. You’re way too famous to be sending messages like that.” Shaq also quoted a message he supposedly sent to Carpenter: “I can’t be horny and want some of that snow bunny kitty for no reason. You can’t handle Big Diesel anyway. My meat would have you in the hospital.” Shaq dismissed the rumors as nonsense, joking, “First of all, ladies, the Diesel got way more game than that.” He attributed the viral claims to fans seeking attention, stating, “It’s not about me. It’s about the algorithm and going viral.” This isn’t the first time Shaq has faced dating rumors. In October, he refuted claims of a romantic relationship with OnlyFans model Sophie Rain, explaining he was DJing at a club when she “came to my party.” He added, “Stop tryna create rumors.” The article then shifts to highlight other celebrities who have faced scrutiny over age gaps in their relationships. Sarah Paulson, 57, and Holland Taylor, 76, have been together for over a decade, with Paulson calling critics “strange” for disapproving of their 32-year age difference.#shaquille_oneal #sabrina_carpenter #the_big_podcast #sarah_paulson #holland_taylor
Shaquille O’Neal Denies Sending Viral Explicit DM’s to Sabrina Carpenter, Says He Has “Way More Game” Shaquille O’Neal has denied allegations that he sent sexually explicit direct messages to pop star Sabrina Carpenter, dismissing the claims as a misunderstanding and joking that he possesses “way more game” than what was depicted in the messages. The 54-year-old basketball legend, known for his larger-than-life personality and high-profile relationships, took to his podcast The Big Podcast with Shaq to address the controversy, emphasizing his innocence while adding a humorous twist to the situation. O’Neal’s co-hosts on the show suggested the messages might have been generated by artificial intelligence or sent from a fake account impersonating the Lakers icon. They pointed out that the profile picture used in the alleged messages matched his real social media account, though they acknowledged this detail alone does not confirm his involvement. The hosts also noted that the content of the messages did not align with O’Neal’s known communication style, further fueling speculation about their authenticity. The incident has sparked broader discussions about the spread of misinformation online, particularly with the increasing accessibility of AI tools. O’Neal used the opportunity to caution fans and followers about verifying information before accepting it as fact. “If I actually messaged someone like Sabrina Carpenter, it wouldn’t be a rumor—it’d be a full-blown scandal,” he remarked, highlighting the potential consequences of such claims if they were true. O’Neal’s past has included public admissions of infidelity during his NBA career, which has made the allegations less surprising to some.#lakers #shaquille_oneal #sabrina_carpenter #the_big_podcast #ai_misinformation
Shaq slams fake headline about Sabrina Carpenter messages Shaquille O’Neal, the former NBA star, publicly denounced a fabricated headline that falsely claimed he had exchanged explicit messages with pop singer Sabrina Carpenter. The controversy emerged after a fake story circulated online, alleging that O’Neal had sent inappropriate texts to Carpenter. O’Neal addressed the issue during an episode of The Big Podcast, where he confronted rapper Jim Jones, who had read aloud the misleading headline. Jones presented the fake headline as a headline that O’Neal was supposedly going to show him, stating, “Shaq exposed for shooting his shot at Sabrina Carpenter.” O’Neal then read the alleged messages exchanged between the two, which included purportedly lewd and flirtatious content. One message claimed O’Neal had said, “Damn, baby I would keep your farts in a cologne bottle and spray it on me every day,” while Carpenter allegedly responded, “I know who you are. You’re way too famous to be sending me messages like that.” O’Neal quickly clarified that he had never sent such messages and dismissed the claims as entirely untrue. “I first of all ladies, the Diesel got way more game than that, I’m just saying,” O’Neal said, emphasizing that the messages were fabricated. He reiterated that he had never communicated with Carpenter in such a manner and criticized the media for spreading false information. O’Neal also highlighted his past experiences with relationships, acknowledging that he had made mistakes in his personal life. In a 2023 interview, O’Neal reflected on his tumultuous relationships, stating, “I had two perfect women and I messed it up.#shaquille_oneal #sabrina_carpenter #the_big_podcast #jim_jones #explicit_messages
