The NBA has certain guidelines regarding participation of players in other sports. However, Shaquille O’Neal could take part in one such prohibited sport, MMA. Here’s how:
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How Shaquille O’Neal could to do MMA
The standard NBA contract explicitly prohibits boxing, professional wrestling, motorcycling, moped-riding, auto-racing, sky-diving and hang-gliding. On the other hand, it officially permits golf, tennis, handball, swimming, hiking, softball and volleyball. The NBA takes these measures, considering the well-being of its players.
Surprisingly enough, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal learned MMA in his early years, and continued over time. In a recent interview with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani on ESPN’s Instagram Live, Shaq discussed his love for MMA.
O’Neal told Helwani that MMA was the reason he became a champion.
“I always used to practice basketball. It wasn’t enough. Because when I played basketball, it was more wrestling. So when I trained MMA with Jon Burke, a friend of mine down in Orlando, I came back in the best shape of my life. That was in 2000. Won. Dominated.”
O’Neal said that he felt Greg Hardy was the strongest guy he has ever wrestled in his life. He then revealed, “If we got into it, it’d probably be a long day for me.”