Business and life advice from basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal

One of the joys of his job is being able to sit down and pick the brains of people like Shaq, writes David Koch. Yes, they talked basketball, but also Shaq’s thoughts as a leader, investor and all-round good guy.

You know him as the 7’1” basketball legend who has won four NBA championships. But did you know he was one of the early investors in Google (well before it floated as Alphabet)? Or that he owned and sold 155 Five Guys burger franchises? And has interests in Pappa John’s, Beachbody fitness, car washes and Vegas clubs?

In fact, Shaquille O’Neal’s business interests are valued at over $500 million.

One of the joys of my job is being able to sit down and pick the brains of people like Shaq. Yes, we talked basketball (I used to be a part owner of the Sydney Kings and even took my then-teenage daughter to meet him at Sydney airport when he last visited 25 years ago). But I’m more interested in him as a leader, how he invests and his outlook on life.

Frankly, I was surprised at how humble and down to earth he is. And smart.

From NBA to MBA cred

Shaq was sick of going to business meetings with his managers and being treat like a “dumb jock” and ignored after the fan boy greetings. So he completed an MBA.

He says if he’s now ignored in meetings, “I say, hey speak to me. This is my team, but I’m the guy who makes the ultimate decisions, so pitch to me.”

He was telling me that putting together his business team follows the same principles as putting a team on a basketball court. Different skills from different people, which then gel together to ensure the right decisions are made.

Grounded and grateful

Shaq delegates rather than surrenders the decision making responsibilities. He uses his team to filter investment options and they then present to him.

Every deal has to be a one page summary to spark his interest. He then gets a deeper briefing on the ones he leans towards.

He is happy to look at any business opportunity but prefers those which can leverage his personal brand… which is enormous.

As a leader I found him incredibly grounded and grateful for the opportunities he has had. Shaq reckons he has never had a real job and admires those that do. He pointed to my cameraman Jarrod and said, “Like him – a job which has purpose.”

He explained that’s why he has such a sense of community and helping people – because he has been given opportunities that others haven’t.

No cheese without degrees

And his children don’t get a free ride either, even though they seem to have basketball talent as well. One is playing in the NBA Summer League, another plays college basketball and his daughter is a star on her high school team.

“No cheese from me without two degrees” is his famous saying to his kids. In other words, they’ll get no support from him unless they go to college and get at least two degrees to build a life for themselves outside of sport.

For fun he has become DJ Diesel, because he reckons DJing at a show is the closest adrenalin rush to playing in an NBA game.

The best Australian basketballer he has played against? Shane Heal. Even though he referred to him as a yappy, annoying opponent . Knowing Shane for a long time, I can sort of see his point.

Don’t take this mountain for granted. He knows exactly what he is doing and has the smarts to do it. Plus he has a terrific sense of community and his role in it.