Shaquille O’Neal, the beloved NBA Hall of Famer and media personality, left fans worried after he posted a concerning photo from a hospital bed on Sunday. The image, which O’Neal shared on his social media platforms, showed the basketball icon lying down with an IV attached to his arm. Despite the medical setting, O’Neal kept his characteristic humor alive by tagging his TNT co-hosts, Candace Parker and Ernie Johnson, with a light-hearted message saying he was “always watching” them, even from the hospital.
The photo quickly sparked a wave of concern from his millions of followers, many of whom were left wondering why O’Neal was in the hospital. Clarification soon followed when TMZ Sports reported that the former NBA superstar had undergone hip surgery. According to the report, the surgery was to address an issue with his hip, and O’Neal is now “on the mend” following a successful operation. Sources close to the situation revealed that the surgery went smoothly, with everything proceeding “according to plan” as O’Neal was under the knife.
Though the 7’1″ basketball legend is now in recovery, the photo left many fans unsettled. Given O’Neal’s larger-than-life personality and towering physical presence, seeing him in such a vulnerable state was a stark contrast to the usual image of the dominant athlete and charismatic TV host. Nevertheless, the good news is that O’Neal’s condition is reportedly stable, and he is expected to make a full recovery following the procedure.
While O’Neal hasn’t directly commented further on his surgery or recovery timeline, his playful message to his co-hosts and fans reassures that he’s in good spirits, even amid his hospital stay.