In a recent episode of his The Big Podcast With Shaq, former NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal said that he understands Kanye West’s recent outbursts and behavior because he was once in that state at a certain point in his life.
The former Los Angeles Lakers star’s back and forth with the rapper and fashion designer stems from O’Neal calling out Kyrie Irving after the Brooklyn Nets player shared a tweet of a movie that was deemed anti-Semitic.
“Sometimes it hurts me that we have to sit here and talk about things that divide the game. Now, we have to answer for what this idiot has done,” O’Neal had said on TNT, per MARCA.
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But following Shaq’s comments about Irving, Kanye – who now goes by the name Ye – took to Twitter to question the retired basketball star’s business endeavors. Kanye, in the tweet, appeared to claim Canadian billionaire Jamie Salter was cheating Shaq. Salter is the owner of ABG – a company that focuses on brand development, marketing and entertainment.
“Shaq is in business with Jamie Salter,” Kanye shared on Twitter. “Jaimie first said he’s 50/50 with David Beckham and 50/50 with Shaq I said ‘Jamie… There is no such thing as 50/50 in business… Who has the extra 1 percent for control and voting rights.”
But Shaq responded, tweeting: “Believe me you don’t know me like that,” he said. “Worry about your business, and to quote the once great Kanye west ‘I got more money than you, so why would I listen to you’ take my advice get your family business in order. Have a good day, brother.”
And though things between the two have since simmered, Shaq recently touched on the College Dropout rapper’s behavior, saying he was once in that state.
“When I look at Kanye, I say you know what, I know what he’s going through. You know why I know what he’s going through? Because I used to be a narcissist,” Shaq said. “First example, when you’re a narcissist, mom takes the kids away from you. Second example, when you’re a narcissist, things start disappearing.”
The 50-year-old said that he eventually evolved in the wake of his divorce and after his ex-wife left with their children. “When mom left, when the kids left, when my career was over,” he recalled. “You know how you fix that? You have to be humble. That’s why I’m where I am now. I don’t look down on people because I’m a minor.”
