Few months ago Shaquille O’Neal, who was one of the few former NBA players to co-own an NBA franchise, had to sell his shares in the Sacramento Kings due to a new partnership with WynnBET, a sports betting application for which he became an ambassador. A decision that was not easy and about which he said:
“It was very hard. In fact, it breaks my heart. I tried to find loopholes, but I couldn’t. I’ve always been one to follow the rules. The NBA has been good to me, Adam Silver has been good for me. I had a good chat with Vivek (Ranadivé, owner), who is a brilliant businessman. As I said, we know and believe that WynnBET will be the next big thing in the online sports gaming industry. For me, it was obvious. I have equity in this business and hope it does well. » Shaq
But obviously he is not giving up the idea of becoming the owner of a franchise again, as he declared during the Big Podcast With Shaq with his former teammate Dennis Scott.
“Shaq and Dennis, we’re ready to buy the Orlando Magic. Dennis (Scott), we have the money. Don’t worry about the money,” Shaq said on the Big Podcast. “It’s a message to the DeVos family: If you’re ready to sell the Orlando Magic, sell it to someone who can take it to the next level, us.
He sees Dennis Scott as the GM in this case:
“I’ll bring someone I trust. It will be Dr. Scott. Then he can choose who he wants. He will be the brain, I don’t have one. Said Shaq
“We are similar in that we give responsibilities to people we trust,” explained Dennis Scott. “We don’t like micro management. What Shaq is saying is that when we were teammates, I was the voice behind him saying, ‘He’s the one we need.’ So that’s why he’s like, ‘let me be the GM, let me be the voice that calls the guys and says, come play with us, come to Orlando.
Not sure, however, that it is a question of selling the Magic, but the message is clear:
“Look, we still run this franchise. If the DeVos family will sell it to us, we’re ready to go right now. » Shaq