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At the end of his 21st NBA regular season, LeBron James looked energized, strong on both ends of the court, and ready to do well in the playoffs.

James scored 28 points, dished out 17 assists, grabbed 11 rebounds, and stole five balls as the Los Angeles Lakers beаt the New Orleans Pelicans 124–108 on Sunday to move into the eighth spot in the Western Conference. The Pelicans lost their chance to be in the top six, which was their goal.

“I want to win.” “So, whatever the game calls for me to be,” James said. James is also the main blocker for Pelicans star power forward Zion Williamson. “My nаme is Swiss Army Knιfe. I have to do everything on the floor, and nothing is set in stone.

Anthony Davis scored 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against the team that picked him first in the 2012 NBA draft. This set up a rematch for Tuesday night in the conference play-in at the same building.

Davis asked to leave the game in the last few minutes and walked slowly back to the locker room while holding his lower back. He said that his back “locked up” when he was pushed from behind while he was in the air, but that his ιnjury was “nothing concerning.”

Davis said, “There’s no doubt that I’m going to play” in the play-in game on Tuesday. “Get some rubs and treatments, and don’t tighten up. “Just wait and see how I feel in 36 hours.”

James’s triple-double was his fifth of the season, and he helped lead Los Angeles to a 68-42 win over New Orleans in the paint by setting up plays.

Williamson said, “They got what they wаnted in the paint.” “They beаt us in the paint.”

James said that his goal was to “read the game and just find my teammates.”

“Just try to get the ball to the right people at the right time for jump shots or guys at the basket,” James said. “Just making sure that my play is very efficient.”

Williamson scores 23 points per game on average for the Pelicans; James helped hold him to 12 points.

“What a beast! James said of Williamson, “It’s almost impossible to stop him.” “Just keep your body on him and try to make things hard for him.”

While this was going on, Williamson scolded himself for “being too passive.”

He said, “I don’t think I was really meаn the whole game.”

Dallas Smith scored 19 points and Austin Reaves scored 20 for the Lakers, who won eight of their last eleven regular-season games.

The Pelicans were trying to secure a No. 6 spot and avoid the play-in round, and CJ McCollum scored 23 points. They had just won four straight road games and had just added high-scoring wing Brandon Ingram to their lineup. However, they struggled at home and lost.

Instead, it was a lot like the NBA In-Season Tournament playoff in Las Vegas in December, when the Lakers beаt the Pelicans 133–89 to win badly.

Their coach, Willie Green, said, “They punched us right in the mouth and they kept going.” It was a great chance that we missed.

He had missed 12 games with a sprained left knee, but Ingram scored 13 points. They got 18 more points from Herb Jones.

The Pelicans were ahead 28–24 after Ingram’s three-pointer at the end of the first quarter, but the Lakers went to the foul line because of what looked like a mistake by the refs.

John Goble, an official, said that Los Angeles should have been given free throws for the Pelicans’ second foul in the last two minutes of the period but wasn’t. Taurus Prince made both of them.

The Lakers then made the first basket of the second quarter, a driving layup by Prince that made it 32-24. James then made a reverse layup that started a 9-0 run that made it 41-26.

The Pelicans missed 14 of their first 19 three-point shots, but the Lakers were getting long rebounds and making shots in motion.

Reaves’ 3-pointer and dunk from behind the arc gave the Lakers their first 20-point lead, 53–33. It was 70–53 after another Reaves three.

In the beginning of the third quarter, Reaves made a three-pointer, Russell made two more, and Davis scored a flying dunk that made the score 83-57 for the Lakers.

The Lakers had their biggest lead yet, 91-59, after Russell made another three-pointer.

Williamson said, “We need to get back together as a team because we’re here now.” “We still have faith, even though we didn’t get the result we wаnted.”

It’s widely known Michael Jordan is one of the fiercest competitors around. Whether it’s on the golf course or on the basketball court, Jordan wants to win. Jordan, the six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls, had his competitive fire on full blast in college when he was playing a game of pool with North Carolina teammate Matt Doherty.

Matt Doherty was Jordan’s teammate and later coached UNC

Michael Jordan (C) of the Chicago Bulls grabs a rebound from teammate Dennis Rodman (L) and P.J. Brown (R) of the Miami Heat 28 May during the first half of game five of the NBA Eastern Conference finals at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (VINCENT LAFORET/AFP via Getty Images)

Matt Doherty was a 1980 McDonald’s All-American out of East Meadow, New Jersey. He was a sophomore forward on the North Carolina men’s basketball team that defeated Georgetown in the 1982 NCAA title game. Doherty played four years for the Tar Heels and averaged nine points for his career. He later went on to become the head coach at UNC from 2000-2003.

Doherty was a year older than Michael Jordan, and he was thoroughly impressed with the freshman Jordan, who wound up hitting the game-winning shot in the championship. “His competitiveness, his eagerness to learn…but we had James Worthy,” Doherty recently said on the Endless Hustle podcast. “James Worthy was the best player on the team. We had Sam Perkins. Sam Perkins was a great player.

“Michael came in and did things that were so unique. His hang time, his ability to drive baseline and hang and find an opening and shoot the ball with touch was incredible.”

MATT DOHERTY, FORMER TEAMMATE OF MICHAEL JORDAN

Doherty was in awe of Jordan

Matt Doherty was very impressed with what he saw from Michael Jordan, especially the season after Jordan hit his game-winning shot against Georgetown in the title game. “The summer after Michael’s freshman year, all the pros come back in the summertime,” Doherty said. “Michael had gotten a little stronger, grew about a half inch, and we’re playing these pickup games.

“You have some of the better players in the NBA come back and one of them was Walter Davis. Walter Davis, they called him The Greyhound, he has his jersey in the rafters, number 24. He was an All-Pro for the Phoenix Suns and I’m sitting in the bleachers and Michael is literally giving it to Walter. I’m saying to myself, ‘Yo, Michael. Chill. You’re embarrassing Walter. His jersey is in the rafters. Show him some respect.’ I remember having that thought.”

Doherty said he noticed Jordan always took things up a notch when he played against better competition. “When he played on the Olympic team in 84, they were playing exhibition games against the NBA All-Stars, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, all these guys,” Doherty said. “Now I’m seeing Michael play against the pros in real games, important games, and he’s the best player on the court.”

Doherty saw Jordan’s intense competitiveness up close

During a March 18 episode of the Endless Hustle podcast, Matt Doherty was asked if he ever got an up-close look at Jordan’s competitive nature. If so, was that the way he always was? “Yup, pretty much,” Doherty said. Doherty then rattled off a few examples.

“Whether it was a shooting drill, everything was competitive,” Doherty said. “He talked a lot of junk. I remember two instances in particular. One, we’re shooting pool on a road trip at UVA. I’m playing pool against him and I win. He looks at the table, takes his pool cue, throws it on the table, and says, ‘this table’s not even regulation.’ And he walked out.

“Another time we were playing pickup (basketball) and he calls a foul. I’m like, ‘dude, that’s not a foul. That’s soft. That’s not a foul.’ We didn’t finish the game. We walked off the court. Michael liked to win and he liked to win at everything.”

Michael Jordan is the kind of celebrity that doesn’t need any introduction. His unparalleled accomplishments and hard work have turned him into one of the most impactful players to ever grace the court — he is a living legend.

In April this year, ESPN and Netflix have released a sports documentary called The Last Dance. The miniseries revolves around Michael Jordan’s career with the Chicago Bulls. It depicts everything from the great effort, hard work and dedication that led MJ and his team to winning six NBA Championships.

For many years now, Jordan’s been enjoying an amazing reputation as the greatest basketball player of all time, but things could’ve been totally different if the star hadn’t accepted failure as part of his success.

He wasn’t born a champion nor had a raw talent for playing basketball. But he did have something that separates a champion from the average player: he’s relentless and has never, ever gave up once he set his mind to achieve something.

Whenever we fail, we get discouraged and afraid to try again. This is a common behavior for most of us, but not for the basketball star. So here are five life lessons you can learn from Michael Jordan, lessons that will change your perspective on failure

1. Failure is the natural path to success

As previously stated, MJ is no stranger to failure. Perhaps the biggest failure that went on to define the person he is today, arrived when he was still in high school. He was cut from the varsity basketball team because he wasn’t good and tall enough.

This type of news would probably destroy any teenager’s dream of becoming a professional basketball player. Most would probably give up and try something different. Imagine if at that moment Jordan would’ve decided that basketball was simply not for him.

What did he do instead? He wiped his tears and practiced until he became good enough. He didn’t let his coach decide his future career. From a young age, he understood that failure doesn’t define a person, but the power to get up and try again.

I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.

MICHAEL JORDAN

2. If you want something badly enough, you’re going to get it

Jordan’s former head coach at the University of North Carolina shared a story about the player’s determination to become the best. He remembered him saying “I’m going to show you, nobody will ever work as hard as I work.” And he kept his promise.

When you want something you have to understand that, in order to get it, you have to dedicate yourself completely. There will be obstacles but overcoming them is essential for your growth. If you want something badly enough, you’ll be willing to learn and invest time and effort. Maybe you won’t get it exactly when you want it, but you will eventually.

If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

MICHAEL JORDAN

Watch this Goalcast video on what Michael Jordan did when they told him he was ‘too short’:

3. You grow and become better in time

Back in 1993, everyone was baffled when MJ decided to retire from playing basketball and transition into baseball. He and the Bulls have just won their third NBA Championship so why change directions now?

He wanted something else and wanted to test his limits again. He was already a great basketball player and becoming just as great at baseball was a massive challenge that he took on.

He struggled with batting at first, but he continued practicing like no one else and got better in time. His work ethic was amazing and his philosophy simple — if you want to get better at something, you have to practice, you have to commit to upgrading yourself.

I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.

4. Live in the present

In The Last Dance, there’s a scene where MJ is celebrating another championship win and one of the reporters asked him “Is there another year in ya?” He replied: “It’s the moment, man. Get in the moment and stay here. Just stay in the moment till next October, then we’ll know where the hell we are.”

Be present in the here and now and allow yourself to truly celebrate your achievements. Don’t dwell on the past nor worry about the future. Set goals but enjoy what you have now and don’t worry about missing a shot you haven’t even taken yet.

5. Step up your game

In 1995, the Chicago Bulls were eliminated from the NBA playoff by the Orlando Magic and this broke MJ’s heart. But instead of taking some time off after the season, he got back on the court the very next day to improve his game.

Sometimes you’re going to lose, but that doesn’t mean that you’re not good enough. It only means that the next time you should try harder. There’s always room for improvement and there are always other ways to achieve your goals. You just need to figure them out.

To sum up…

As you can see, Michael Jordan wasn’t born with a special talent, he simply cultivated it. He turned every failure he had to face into a challenge to become better. He understood that growth comes from overcoming failures, not by playing it safe and avoiding them.

MJ developed grit and realized that we, as humans, are the only ones limiting our greatness. You’ll sometimes fail, but that doesn’t make you a failure. Learn from your mistakes, work on your strategy, be better than you were yesterday, and don’t let a defeat define you as a person.

If you quit once it becomes a habit. Never quit!

Michael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials MJ, is an American businessman and former professional basketball player.

He played fifteen seasons in the National Basketball Association, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls.

Who is Jordan Michael Wife?

Jordan has married twice. His first wife was Juanita Vanoy (m. 1989–2006) and his current wife is Yvette Prieto (m. 2013).

Jordan Michael age and birthday

Jordan is 59 years old, born on February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn, United States.

Jordan Michael nationality

Michael is an American who was born and raised in New York, United States.

Jordan Michael height

Michael stands tall at 6ft, 3inches.

 

 

Jordan Michael career

Michael is a basketball player who has received multiple recognitions for his success in the game.

Does Jordan Michael have kids?

Michael has five children with two different women, thus his first wife and second wife. 

The children are: Victoria Jordan, Jeffrey Michael Jordan, Ysabel Jordan, Marcus Jordan and Jasmine M. Jordan.

Jordan Michael Instagram

Find Michael on instagram as @jordanmichael.

Jordan Michael Net Worth

Michael has an estimated net worth of USD 1.7 billion.

Michael Jordan’s 10-part documentary series, “The Last Dance,” premieres Sunday, April 19 on ESPN.

The series, released two months early because of the NBA season’s indefinite pause, will feature never-before-seen footage of Jordan’s last season (1997-98) with the Chicago Bulls.

Jordan is one of the most celebrated figures in popular culture and almost universally regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, wrote Business Insider’s Danny Bakst. Since he retired in 2003, he has built the most successful and lucrative career Business Insider has ever seen from a former athlete.

While he made less than $100 million during his career as the NBA’s greatest player of all time, he’s been a billionaire since 2014. Currently, his net worth is estimated at $2.1 billion.

He’s living a lavish retirement, spending his days in sprawling houses, riding custom planes, and golfing on his own golf course.

But as much as Jordan is spending, his wealth also keeps growing. Here are nine mind-blowing facts that show just how rich he is.

1. With $1.85 billion in career earnings, Michael Jordan is the highest-paid athlete of all time.

Alan Mothner/AP
Jordan still makes more money than LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, or any other active player.

2. Jordan bought the Charlotte Hornets in 2010 for $175 million, a move that made him a billionaire.

Streeter Lecka/Getty
The Hornets have since skyrocketed in value, and Jordan officially became a billionaire in 2014 when the NBA franchise’s value rose.

He owns 97% of the equity in the club. Jordan did sell a minority stake in the club in 2019 that valued the team at $1.5 billion, but he reportedly has no interest in giving up control of the team.

3. As of 2015, Jordan was reportedly making $100 million a year from Nike royalties alone.

NBA legend Michael Jordan holds up an autographed AJ19 shoe, the latest design in the Air Jordan shoe line, at a Hong Kong news conference. AP/Anat Givon
Jordan also has sponsorship deals with Hanes, Gatorade, and Upper Deck 16 years post-retirement, according to Forbes.

4. Jordan’s $2.1 billion net worth is greater than the GDP of Belize.

Shutterstock
Belize’s GDP is $2.07 billion.

5. He’s so rich that an average American spending $1 is similar to Jordan spending $21,582.

Former basketball superstar Michael Jordan speaks during a press conference ahead of NBA basketball game between Charlotte Hornets and Milwaukee Bucks in Paris, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. AP Photo/Thibault Camus
The median net worth of an average US household is $97,300. Dividing Jordan’s net worth of $2.1 billion by $97,300 comes to about $21,582.

6. At that rate, buying the typical house in the US would cost Jordan just over $13.

AP Photo/M. Spencer Green
The median home value in the US is $282,000. Dividing that by $21,582 comes to about $13.

7. In 2019, Jordan earned roughly $34,246 an hour, according to Business Insider calculations.

Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational
Business Insider found the difference between Jordan’s 2019 and 2020 net worths, $1.8 billion and $2.1 billion, respectively (as provided by the Forbes’ 2018 and 2019 richest people in the world lists, published every March) to determine his annual earnings. Jordan’s annual earnings came to roughly $300 million.

We then divided this estimated annual earnings figure by 8,760, the number of hours in a year, to calculate how much he earned an hour.

8. In less than an hour-and-a-half, Jordan makes what it takes the full-time median US worker a year to earn — $48,328.

Elsa/Getty
That’s based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In one and a half hours exactly, Jordan makes $51,369, according to Business Insider’s calculations.

9. It took Jordan two days and 16 hours to earn what the average American man with a bachelor’s degree will earn in his lifetime — $2.2 million, according to the Social Security Administration.

Michael Jordan at a gala in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images for MJCI
That means Jordan earned the average college-educated American man’s lifetime earnings in less than a week.

The average American woman with a bachelor’s degree will earn $1.3 million in her lifetime, according to the SSA.

CHICAGO – Michael Jordan, salah satu pemain basket paling ikonik dalam sejarah NBA , lahir pada 17 Februari 1963 di Brooklyn, New York. Tak banyak yang tahu, Jordan remaja sempat gagal masuk tim basket utama di SMA. Sebagai shooting guard dan small forward, Jordan menjalani karier gemilangnya dari tahun 1984 hingga 2003. Prestasi Jordan di NBA sungguh mengesankan. Ia berhasil meraih enam gelar juara NBA bersama tim Chicago Bulls pada tahun 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, dan 1998.

Michael Jordan juga menjadi penerima penghargaan MVP (Most Valuable Player) NBA sebanyak lima kali pada tahun 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, dan 1998. Selain itu, ia juga berhasil meraih gelar pemain terbaik dalam Final NBA sebanyak enam kali dan masuk dalam All-NBA First Team sebanyak 10 kali. Jordan diakui sebagai salah satu pemain terbaik dalam sejarah NBA atau GOAT (Greatest of All Time) berkat kemampuannya yang luar biasa dalam mencetak gol, menggiring bola, dan bertahan. Selain keahliannya di lapangan, Jordan juga dikenal sebagai sosok yang sangat kompetitif dan memiliki mentalitas pemenang yang kuat. Ia sering kali tampil gemilang pada momen-momen penting dan mendapatkan julukan “Air Jordan” karena kemampuannya dalam terbang di udara saat melakukan slam dunk. Tak hanya berprestasi di NBA, Jordan juga bermain untuk tim nasional Amerika Serikat dalam ajang Olimpiade. Ia berhasil meraih medali emas Olimpiade sebanyak dua kali, yaitu pada tahun 1984 di Los Angeles dan 1992 di Barcelona. Tim yang diikutinya pada tahun 1992, yang dikenal sebagai “Dream Team,” dianggap sebagai salah satu tim basket terbaik sepanjang masa.

Profil Jordan juga mencakup pencapaian di luar lapangan. Ia merupakan seorang pengusaha sukses yang menjadi pemilik dan chairman tim NBA, Charlotte Hornets. Jordan juga terkenal karena kiprahnya dalam kegiatan amal dan telah memberikan kontribusi besar dalam membantu masyarakat.

Since the premiere of ‘The Last Dance’ Michael Jordan has been the subject of nearly every basketball conversation. In an interview with the Associated Press, Michael Jordan’s daughter Jasmine said she had to google her father’s name to find out why he is so important. “When I was a child, and growing up during the time, I didn’t really understand what was happening because I was so young, and it just didn’t really resonate until I got older.

Robert Hanashiro/USA Today Sports

I laugh because I actually Googled my dad at one point just to figure it out. I was like why is everyone so intrigued by you, you’re just dad, you’re not that cool. But lo and behold, he was kind of a big deal. So it’s definitely something that’s been eye-opening.” SI’s Robin Lundberg shares thoughts on the story and why there’s plenty of Jordan content for all to google.

Read for the Full Transcript: 

Robin Lundberg: Who is Michael Jordan? If you are googling that it is hard for me to believe you and I are from the same planet. However, I will make an exception, for MJ’s daughter Jasmine. She said she used to google her dad to try and understand why he was such a big deal. And now with The Last Dance she’s texting him to get his thoughts. Perhaps only the documentary’s director has better access.

John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

At this point I’m sure she understands why His Airness, to her, daddy, is the icon he is. And if she were to search his name right at this moment, there’d be plenty to read. I wonder if she’s gotten into any Jordan-LeBron debates? I just hope one day my kids also have a reason, a good one that is, to google me.

Check Out SI’s Latest NBA News and Stories

Saturday night’s NBA All-Star events featured some top-tier performances, but in the eyes of fans, players and many others who took to social media, TNT analyst Kenny Smith was not among the night’s winners. The longtime member of Inside the NBA received backlash for numerous comments, including some about WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu, who went toe-to-toe with Stephen Curry in a three-point shootout.Ionescu lost by just three points to Curry in their head-to-head matchup while tallying the same total as three-point shootout winner Damian Lillard in his final round (26). However, Smith’s comments following the competition belittled Ionescu’s performance.

“She should have shot it from the women’s line,” Smith said. “That would have been a fair contest. I still root for Sabrina … But she should have shot from the three-point line that the women shoot from.”

Reggie Miller then asked Smith why he was putting “those boundaries” on Ionescu when she wanted to do the challenge from the NBA three-point line, and the analyst proceeded to double down.

“She should have shot from the line. There is a women’s tee in golf and there is a men’s tee for a reason,” Smith added.

This was just one bit of what Smith said on Saturday that played a large part in sending the internet into a frenzy, and the reactions poured in immediately.

It didn’t stop there, either, as Smith made multiple comments on various topics that left Miller as one of many who were a bit baffled.

While contemporary NBA players have frequently overlooked participating in the iconic dunk contest, Kenny Smith made a noteworthy observation during his recent appearance on ‘The Stephen A. Smith Show. Smith highlighted Michael Jordan’s determination to show his peers and fans that he was the best at everything, leading him to participate in the dunk contest. ‘The Jet’ pointed out the stark contrast in attitude between MJ’s era and that of today’s players.

“One time we were at North Carolina, and we were talking about the Dunk contest with Michael, and he said, ‘I’m doing the Dunk Contest to let them know that I’m the best at everything,’” Kenny said. “He said, ‘I’m gonna enter the 3-point contest one day,’ and he actually did it. So wanted to show the world that he was the best at everything, and that’s why you play the game.”

Stephen A. Smith on who missed the opportunity to change the Dunk Contest

Speaking of the Dunk Contest, Stephen A. Smith expressed his belief that Anthony Edwards represents the league’s future, and since ‘Ant-Man’ missed an opportunity to inspire stars of his generation by not participating in the Dunk Contest. Kenny agreed with this sentiment, emphasizing the potential impact the former No. 1 pick could have had on encouraging his peers to follow in his footsteps.

“He didn’t participate. I thought he missed an opportunity… this is All-Stars, you’re surrounded by All-Stars, this is your opportunity to claim, ‘Yo this is a new era coming. I’m a part of. Ya’ll better watch out for me,’” Stephen A. said. “I thought he sort of passed on that opportunity to some degree.”

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Shaquille O’Neal has been retired since 2011 but remains very relevant as he has reinvented himself, conquering the world of business while still a regular in the media.

The former NBA center has been on the panel of TNT’s popular basketball show Inside the NBA since retirement and also has a weekly podcast.

“…unlike most former stars who struggle to maintain their wealth post-retirement and go bankrupt, the Hall of Famer has seen his value increase in the wake of his playing career.”

O’Neal, who goes by the nickname Shaq, probably doesn’t need to work. He earned over $300 million during his playing career but, unlike most former stars who struggle to maintain their wealth post-retirement and go bankrupt, the Hall of Famer has seen his value increase in the wake of his playing career.

Shaq is earning more than the $30 million he made a year in the NBA, having fashioned some solid investments in tech, restaurants, and other businesses. He has also locked down some very lucrative endorsement deals.

The 50-year-old was drafted as 1992’s No.1 overall pick out of LSU by the Orlando Magic, where he experienced relative success. He would become a true NBA superstar after joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996. He won three of his four titles alongside Kobe Bryant in L.A but the pair were hardly able to get along and that they were able to win multiple championships together is remarkable in itself.

In 2004, O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat, where he won his fourth ring, playing alongside Dwyane Wade. Apart from his legacy as a four-time champ, Shaq is also a three-time NBA Finals MVP, one-time regular season MVP, eight-time All-NBA First Team feature, 15-time All-Star, and two-time scoring champion. He won many more personal accolades during his time in the NBA.

His career took a dip following the championship year with Miami and he moved to the Phoenix Suns in 2008, heading to Cleveland to play with the Cavaliers before signing with the Boston Celtics. Shaq admits he felt bad taking the Celtics’ money for limited production, so he decided to hang it up whilst there.

“Because one thing I am with myself, I’m honest. I’m Shaq, but I’m not Shaq,” he said a few years ago. “Shaq is not Shaq when he’s averaging seven, eight, nine points (per game). That’s not Shaq. I can still entertain and do stuff to make people giggle, but that’s not Shaq. I’m robbing the people. I’m robbing the Celtics. ‘You’re only paying me a million (dollars). I don’t feel right. I’m not coming back. Here’s your money back, sir. Thank you very much.’ ”

The Celtics, who made it to the finals last season, might have a hard time doing so again because of the situation with head coach Ime Udoka, so it will be interesting to see how fans using Massachusetts Sports Betting Apps make their punts when betting becomes legal in the state early next year.

Meanwhile, Shaq has continued to thrive on the back of his playing days. He was one of the most recognizable faces in sports back then, even landing roles in several movies and dropping rap albums. But now, he’s one of the more popular businessmen in the media.

The brand ambassador deal earns him several million a year.

The former NBA superstar was a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings from 2013-2022; he sold his stake in the team this year. In 2019, he joined the board of directors of Papa John’s investing in nine Atlanta stores and becoming the spokesperson for the pizza franchise. The brand ambassador deal earns him several million a year.

O’Neal also owns eight Auntie Anne’s pretzel shops in Buffalo, New York, and nine in Michigan, having also splurged big on Five Guys. He owned 10 percent of the company’s portfolio at one point, which translated into 155 restaurants.

While he’s known to love his food, The Diesel is also into fitness and has 40 24-Hour Fitness gyms across the country, as well as a movie theater in New Jersey.

Shaq is the owner of 150 car washes too. But one of his most profitable investments came in the form of Google stock when it was pre-IPO. He lucked out with this one as it kind of happened by accident.

“I’m actually babysitting the guy’s kids while he’s in a meeting,” O’Neal said on the Ellen Degeneres Show. “So after the meeting, he says, ‘You know what? You’re good with kids, I like you, I’m going to bring you in on this investment.’ And it was called Google. He said, ‘You know, in the future, you’re going to be able to type on your phone, search engine this, do this, boom, boom, boom, you should invest.’”

He invested in 2004 and, while it’s unclear how much he bought, he notes it made him a huge return.

Shaq has revealed that he only invests in businesses that provide products and services which he likes. He’s also associated with Icy Hot, Carnival Cruises, Fruity Pebbles, Zales, Arizona, and Gold Bond.