LISTEN: NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is spreading holiday cheer in a big way through his 23rd annual Shaq-a-Claus event in McDonough, Ga. GPB Morning Edition's Pamela Kirkland talks to him about its origins.

This holiday season, NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is spreading holiday cheer in a big way. Through his Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, Shaq brought his 23rd annual Shaq-a-Claus event to Wesley Lakes Elementary School in McDonough, Ga., where 600 kids from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade received toys, coats, bikes and other essentials on Friday.

"If I controlled the world, every kid would wake up with five to 10 toys,” he said. “I just want them to be happy."

Although the event bears his name, Shaq credits his mother, Lucille O'Neal, for coming up with the idea years ago. 

"I know I take all the credit, but this was her brainchild," O'Neal said. "And I'm just I'm just a kid that loves his mother and just trying to make his mom proud."

With carnival games, a live DJ, and haircuts provided by sponsors, the event wasn’t just a giveaway — it was a celebration. Other Shaq-a-Claus events will spread cheer in cities including Las Vegas, Orlando, and Dallas this year.

 

TRANSCRIPT

Pamela Kirkland: It's Morning Edition. I'm Pamela Kirkland. The holidays are all about spreading joy, and few people do that better or on a larger scale than Shaquille O'Neal. On Friday, the basketball legend brought smiles to kids at Wesley Lakes Elementary School in McDonough with his Shaq a Claus event, something that he's been doing for years. I caught up with him at the giveaway. Thank you so much for speaking with me today.

Shaquille O'Neal gives a student a high five at this annual Shaq-a-Claus event

Shaquille O'Neal gives a student a high five Dec. 13, 2024, in McDonough, Ga., at his annual Shaq-a-Claus event.

Credit: Pamela Kirkland/GPB News

Shaquille O'Neal: Thanks for being here.

Pamela Kirkland: This is the 23rd year. What makes this year special? We're in metro Atlanta. How does it feel every year to bring so much joy to these kids?

Shaquille O'Neal: I think it's longer than that. I started in 1992. My mother went to a Boys and Girls Club event where it was expected to be 500 kids. 3,500 to 5,000 kids showed up. And a lot of kids expressed that they were not getting anything on Christmas. So you know how moms are. She called me and she's the mom that doesn't really like to bother me. So I heard some discernment in a voice and she said, "Son I need to borrow some money." Which she never does, by the way. And I said, "What's going on?" And she said, "I need to buy some toys for some kids." I said, "How many kids?" She said "5,000." And I said, "I'll take care of it." And me and my boys would go to Toys 'R' Us and we'd rack up. Called my mother back and said "Tell the school, set up a chair, me and you will sit there." She said "Shaq-a-Claus." So I know I take all the credit, but this was her brainchild. And I'm just I'm just a kid that loves his mother and just trying to make his mom proud.

Pamela Kirkland: What's your favorite part about doing this event?

Shaquille O'Neal: Making kids smile. My family didn't have a lot, you know, because I was the elder child. Me and my father would have conversations on, "let me take care of your brothers and sisters first. The Barbie houses cost and the skateboards and all that. I will get you the next payday." And so a lot of times I didn't wake up with anything for Christmas. So if I controlled the world, every kid in the world would wake up with five to 10 toys. But 5 [million] to 10 million kids will wake up on Christmas and not receive not one toy. And I know how that feels. So I want to try to do my part. I've always said that every big-time person, celebrity, influencer, just take care where you're from, the world would be a better place.

Pamela Kirkland: Do you have a memory that sticks with you from these events over the years?

Shaquille O'Neal: I'm just like making sure kids get coats, drinks; we're feeding them here. Shoes. Affordable shoes. You know the biggest impact is when I go see my mother. And she gives me a hug and she says "thank you." Because a lot of people don't know that I was a high-level juvenile delinquent. And I gave my mom a lot of — a lot of stress and a lot of troubles. And I used to see her be sad because of me. And I always wanted to erase that, you know, by me starting to listen to her, play basketball, and become this character known as Shaq. I'm able to always keep her happy.

Pamela Kirkland: What do you hope that the kids take away from this? Obviously, the the toys and and the good cheer that you're spreading. But what kind of message do you hope that events like this give the kids?

Shaquille O'Neal: Nothing really. I just want them to be happy. They're too young to be trying to imprint messages in their heads. Somebody asked me the other day, I'm only nice because I've seen my idols be nice. My guy, who I thought was a god, Dr. J, was so nice to me. LL Cool J, when I went backstage at his rap concernt, was so nice to me. Magic Johnson was so nice to me. The former presidents that I met were so nice to me. So I'm only a product of my environment. So hopefully one of these kids one day will be a billionaire like Elon Musk and he'll remember what Uncle Shaq did today and they'll follow. Like, I  keep saying it because I want people to hear it: you big-time influencers and all your people just take care of where you from. You know, a lot of people would spend more time taking care of people rather than flexing, I think the world be a better place.

Pamela Kirkland: Thank you so much for spending time with me.

Shaquille O'Neal: Thank you.

Tags: christmas  charity  Atlanta  Henry County  elementary school  Shaq  Basketball  Georgia