Shaquille O害羞草研究所橬eal is already known by many names. Superman. The Diesel. The Big Aristotle. But he would like to add another to the list: Movie Star.
In 害羞草研究所淯ncle Drew,害羞草研究所� which opens Friday, he plays one of the former basketball stars (all of them real pros under heavy old-man makeup) reunited by Kyrie Irving害羞草研究所檚 titular character (first created for a TV ad) to compete in a street-ball tournament at Harlem害羞草研究所檚 Rucker Park. Shaq害羞草研究所檚 character, known as Big Fella, is found running a martial arts dojo.
But post-NBA life has been far more successful for the four-time NBA champion. He害羞草研究所檚 an analyst on TNT害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淚nside the NBA,害羞草研究所� a popular pitchman and an active entrepreneur and investor. He has dabbled in everything from professional wrestling to law enforcement. He害羞草研究所檚 even a voice setting on the Waze navigation app. This summer he will tour under the name DJ Diesel.
害羞草研究所淯ncle Drew害羞草研究所� is just one of the projects that the 46-year-old O害羞草研究所橬eal has going. Among his favourites is a TBS show he害羞草研究所檚 developing with Ken Jeong. Comparing their chemistry to Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan, O害羞草研究所橬eal says it will be 害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶚Seinfeld害羞草研究所�-epic-ish.害羞草研究所�
In an interview, O害羞草研究所橬eal spoke about his big plans in Hollywood, why the NBA has gotten soft and where he hopes LeBron James lands this off-season.
AP: What do you miss about playing in the NBA?
O害羞草研究所橬eal: I miss all of it. I miss interacting with the fans. I miss having the unexpected adrenaline rush, the doubts, the fear, overcoming the fear. I miss everything.
AP: Do you play anymore?
O害羞草研究所橬eal: No, not at all.
AP: How come?
O害羞草研究所橬eal: I ain害羞草研究所檛 got it. Right now, I害羞草研究所檓 relinquishing all my powers to my son who害羞草研究所檚 going to UCLA .
AP: That害羞草研究所檚 a shame. I害羞草研究所檇 love to see you and Charles Barkley play one-on-one.
O害羞草研究所橬eal: Yeah, Charles would lose.
AP: Your post-NBA career has been uncommonly busy. Why?
O害羞草研究所橬eal: Seventy per cent of all professional athletes have nothing, not even a job, after they害羞草研究所檙e done. The fact that I couldn害羞草研究所檛 even call a franchise to get an interview to be a coach frightened me. So nothing was simple. Educate yourself, be nice to people and save your money. If you do that, you should be OK.
AP: You have numerous TV shows and films in development. What are your Hollywood aspirations?
O害羞草研究所橬eal: I want to be as big as Rock.
AP: Dwayne Johnson is the biggest movie star on the planet. That害羞草研究所檚 setting a high bar.
O害羞草研究所橬eal: We come from the same place: athletes that transition. That害羞草研究所檚 my goal. I want similar type movies. I want to get thrillers. I want to get dramas. I want to do comedies. I want to be the next Rock. I want to do a thriller where I害羞草研究所檓 like a hero and beat up all the bad guys.
AP: It害羞草研究所檚 been 24 years since your big-screen debut, 害羞草研究所淏lue Chips.害羞草研究所� Do you feel like a veteran actor?
O害羞草研究所橬eal: Well, I have shot 15 movies. I always tell my friends I shot 15 movies but they say, 害羞草研究所淵eah, but if you play Shaq in nine of the movies, that害羞草研究所檚 not really acting.害羞草研究所� I say, 害羞草研究所淵ou make a good point.害羞草研究所� I害羞草研究所檓 just happy to have the opportunity.
AP: Favourite movie?
O害羞草研究所橬eal: Oh, 害羞草研究所淪tepbrothers.害羞草研究所� All day, every day. I know that movie by heart.
AP: What else do you like?
O害羞草研究所橬eal: I just got done watching 害羞草研究所淛ustice League.害羞草研究所� I thought it was pretty good. But they held Superman out too long.
AP: In vogue in today害羞草研究所檚 NBA are big men who can shoot from the perimeter . Could you have developed a three-point game?
O害羞草研究所橬eal: No, I would have played the same way. Because you can害羞草研究所檛 score 40 points a night shooting jumpers. Nobody has, nobody will. But you can score 40 points a night shooting 60, 70 per cent inside the paint. The fact that guys are shooting jumpers, that害羞草研究所檚 just telling me they don害羞草研究所檛 like physical contact. Shooting jumpers is easy. Anybody can shoot a jumper. But can you bang a guy four of five times and then still have enough to score two points for your team?
AP: You think the league has gotten soft.
O害羞草研究所橬eal: Of course.
AP: The Lakers are rumoured to be a likely landing spot for LeBron James. Do you want that to happen?
O害羞草研究所橬eal: I just want the Lakers to be like they were back in the day. I want somebody that can beat Golden State. Golden State has turned into madness. The thing that would make me very excited is if LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard came to the Lakers. Then you害羞草研究所檇 have problems in the West. Then basketball would be fun again.
AP: Have you ever talked to Kyrie Irving about his flat Earth beliefs ?
O害羞草研究所橬eal: No, because I said it too. But I was playing.
AP: You were in make-up for four hours a day for 害羞草研究所淯ncle Drew.害羞草研究所� How did you pass the time?
O害羞草研究所橬eal: Sleep. When I woke up, it still wasn害羞草研究所檛 done.
The Associated Press
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