On Sunday night, Shaquille O’Neal sparked concern across the sports community, but he’s reportedly doing well.
The Newark native, renowned for his four NBA championships and Hall of Fame career, posted a photo of himself in a hospital bed without any explanation, prompting a flurry of inquiries about his health. You can view the photo here.
O’Neal tweeted, “I’m always watching (TNT studio host Ernie Johnson) and (TNT studio analyst Candace Parker) miss y’all.” Former NBA center Roy Hibbert and other well-wishers joined the chorus of support, with Hibbert asking, “U good big man?”
Fortunately, the news is reassuring.
O’Neal had undergone hip replacement surgery, as confirmed by Johnson while he was on air during Turner’s NCAA Tournament coverage. The surgery had taken place earlier in the week, as the photo had already been shared before Sunday.
In October, O’Neal extended his contract with Turner, following an announcement from Warner Bros. Discovery Sports that they had renewed agreements with all four members of TNT’s renowned Inside the NBA studio show—Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal—to keep the team together for years.
O’Neal humorously remarked at the time, “I’m happy for ‘The Godfather’ and Kenneth … is there someone else I’m forgetting?” he said, according to Awful Announcing. “I’m kidding … love you, Charles. As long as I say, ‘Are you not entertained?’ and the answer is ‘Yes,’ then we’re going to keep this thing going.”