Latest in Shaquille O’Neal

EXCLUSIVE: Authentic Brands Group said Tuesday it acquired a 20% equity stake in live events and content production company Medium Rare for an undisclosed sum. ABG's stakeholder, Shaquille O'Neal, helped broker the deal. The basketball great already works closely with Medium Rare, which produces a festival experience…

Entertainment finance firm Forest Road and a team of A-list media insiders from Tom Staggs to Kevin Mayer have closed a $300 million IPO of a new SPAC – a special purpose acquisition vehicle they'll use to buy a private company in media, tech or telecom. SPACs, which are exploding, are basically empty publicly traded…

Shaquille O’Neal will executive produce and star in a new animated comedy for kids, Shaq's Garage, for Genius Brands International and ABG Group. Through the partnership, O'Neal is taking a stake in publicly-traded Genius Brands with an unspecified holding. The show follows the secret adventures of the NBA legend's…

There's a SPAC born every minute – today a new one called Forest Road Acquisition registered with the SEC to raise $250 million and hunt for media and entertainment deals with executives and advisors from former TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer and former Walt Disney CFO Tom Staggs to basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal. SPACs…

The big man has a big new deal. Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille has inked a multiyear contract renewal with Turner Sports to continue on its NBA coverage. The 15-time All-Star who won three titles with Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers and another with the Miami Heat is expending his role to include TNT's…

The new TNT Shaquille O'Neal docuseries Shaq Life will debut as part of the network’s first Thursday ShaqNight! on April 9, TNT announced today. The ShaqNight! programming is scheduled for every Thursday, with O'Neal and a revolving cast of his famous friends, from their homes, joining viewers to watch some of the…

UPDATED with speech videos, photo gallery: Beyoncé opened the Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant’s memorial service Monday at Staples Center by singing “XO,” complete with a chorus and multi-piece orchestra for a song she said was Kobe Bryant’s favorite. It kicked off an event heavy on emotion and themes…

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday during his annual pre-Super Bowl press conference that some form of tribute to Kobe Bryant is in the works for Sunday around the NFL’s championship game. Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash Sunday in Calabasas, a…

Things got emotional Tuesday for Shaquille O’Neal when he opened up about Kobe Bryant’s death. While talking to his NBA on TNT colleagues, the tears started to come out as he spoke about the passing of his “little brother”. "I haven't felt a pain that sharp in a while.. it definitely changes me,” O’Neal said. “We’re…

Los Angeles Lakers basketball legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal and Magic Johnson detailed their memories of Kobe Bryant’s life and meaning to the larger world today in their online tributes. The Lakers team has yet to issue a statement, but Johnson in particular was effusive in his praise for…

Former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal is defending Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey for his tweet voicing support for protesters in Hong Kong, which subsequently sparked controversy between the NBA and China. Appearing on TNT Tuesday night, Shaq said Morey was “right” to support the protesters. “One of our best…

EXCLUSIVE: Shaquille O'Neal has struck a deal with 50 Central producer Back Roads Entertainment to develop scripted and non-scripted TV series. The four-time NBA Champion, who played for six teams including Orlando Magic and LA Lakers across his 19-year career, and partner Michael Parris are looking to create, develop…