'I've never been into weed' - Shaquille O'Neal shares the truth about painkiller addiction
career that he says many people were unaware of. The former Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat star reminisced about a period when his life was speeding both on and off the court.
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He spoke about a routine he assumed was normal but later discovered to be more hazardous.
Shaquille O'Neal recalls playing through pain and taking pills during NBA career
On August 12, during his appearance on the 'Armchair Expert' podcast hosted by Dax Shepard, Shaquille O'Neal explained how painkillers became a part of his playing years. The 53-year-old said that in the NBA, he often took pills before games to deal with injuries so he could 'play great.'
Shepard mentioned that many players 'had to be on pain pills to play,' and Shaquille agreed.
He admitted there were 'heated' conversations with doctors who told him he was addicted. Shaq said he didn't feel high, only free from pain, so he didn't realize it was addiction.
He said, 'If it said take one, I'm taking three.' Shaq added that he took anti-inflammatory drugs for 19 seasons during the NBA schedule, but stopped in summer and didn't feel withdrawal symptoms. He kept this from his family, but team trainers knew.
Shaquille O'Neal shares how lifestyle changes followed personal losses
Shaq said he now avoids certain places completely. 'I gave myself a lifetime ban on clubs,' he told Shepard. The former star explained that his busy lifestyle and constant outings cost him his marriage. He and Shaunie Henderson married in 2002, and she filed for divorce in 2009.
It was finalized in 2011. They share four children - Shareef, Shaqir, Amirah, and Me'arah. Shaquille O'Neal also has a daughter, Taahirah, from a previous relationship, and raised Henderson's son, Myles, as his own.
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Today, he prefers spending time at hookah bars, saying it helps him 'sit down' and stay social without being in the club scene. 'I've never been into weed,' he said. 'Hookah doesn't give me a buzz. It's just routine.'
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The conversation offered rare insight into the personal costs of an NBA career. Shaq openness showed that behind the championships and fame, there were quiet battles with pain, choices, and lifestyle changes that shaped who he is now.
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