Shaq Gets Very Real About the End of His Career

JJ Redick
2 May 202411:47

Summary

TLDRThe transcript captures a candid conversation with a retired basketball player, who reflects on his career and the transition into retirement. The player discusses how he used perceived slights as motivation during his career, even within games, to fuel his dominance on the court. He shares personal anecdotes, including the influence of his family and how his approach to handling losses changed after becoming a parent. The player also talks about the challenges of retirement, experiencing a grieving period common to many athletes, and the realization that he could no longer perform at his peak. He expresses a desire to stay active and engaged in life, with plans to try new experiences like skydiving and visiting a water park. The conversation highlights the player's resilience, his ability to adapt to change, and his ongoing search for new challenges and adventures post-retirement.

Takeaways

  • 🏀 The speaker, a former basketball player, used perceived slights as motivation during his career, even within games.
  • 👹‍👧‍👩 Family and close ones played a significant role in the speaker's motivation, including his cousin CNY.
  • đŸ”„ The speaker would get particularly motivated when someone publicly questioned his abilities, leading to a more dominant performance.
  • 🏠 After a loss, the speaker used to express his frustration by damaging items in his home, a habit he had to change after starting a family.
  • đŸ“ș The speaker would actively seek out media coverage and criticism about himself, using it as fuel to improve.
  • đŸ‘¶ Having children helped the speaker to manage his emotions post-game and move away from the intense focus on basketball.
  • đŸŽ„ Despite his success in various fields like movies, commercials, and investments, the speaker still experienced a grieving period after retiring from the NBA.
  • đŸ€” The speaker had a plan for his career, aiming to surpass Wilt Chamberlain's records, but an injury altered those plans.
  • 🧘 After retirement, the speaker initially struggled with a lack of direction and purpose, which was eventually resolved by working with TNT.
  • 🌟 The speaker reflects on the importance of continuous achievement and not dwelling on past accomplishments, emphasizing the need to keep moving forward.
  • 😄 The speaker has developed a new appreciation for life and age, deciding to enjoy every moment and not worry about what others think.

Q & A

  • What was the basketball player's motivation during his career?

    -The basketball player used perceived slights or criticisms as motivation to perform better, both in general and within individual games.

  • How did the player's family and organization influence his motivation?

    -His family and organization played a role in motivating him by highlighting criticisms or slights, which he used to fuel his performance.

  • What was the player's reaction to losing a game?

    -The player would become very upset after a loss, to the point of causing damage to his home. This behavior changed after he started having children.

  • How did the player's approach to handling a loss change after becoming a parent?

    -After having children, the player had to control his anger and frustration, which helped him to distance himself from the game's outcome.

  • What did the player do after retiring from the NBA?

    -Initially, the player found himself without a plan and experienced a period of inactivity and reflection. Eventually, he started working with TNT as a commentator, which reignited his energy and motivation.

  • How did the player feel about his retirement from the NBA?

    -The player experienced a grieving period, feeling a sense of loss for his former self and the identity he had as a dominant player.

  • What was the player's strategy for dealing with criticism?

    -The player would actively seek out articles and comments about himself, using any criticism as a tool to improve and motivate himself.

  • What was the player's attitude towards his past achievements?

    -The player did not dwell on past achievements, focusing instead on what he was currently doing and what he would do next.

  • How did the player adjust to life after his NBA career?

    -The player explored various interests such as acting, commercials, investments, and music. He also started engaging in more social activities and conversations with his neighbors.

  • What was the player's perspective on aging and life after turning 50?

    -The player developed a new appreciation for life and age, deciding to make the most out of the remaining years by doing everything he could and enjoying himself without worrying about others' opinions.

  • What activity did the player express interest in doing, and how did it relate to his desire to stay young?

    -The player expressed a desire to go skydiving, which reflected his intention to continue doing adventurous activities and maintain a youthful spirit.

Outlines

00:00

🏀 Seeking Motivation Through Challenges

The speaker, presumably a former basketball player, discusses how he used perceived slights as motivation during his career. He mentions that even within a game, he would look for reasons to push himself harder. The speaker also talks about the influence of his family and his competitive nature, using an anecdote about being motivated by a cousin's trash talk during a game. He admits to seeking out negative comments or articles about himself to fuel his performance, even considering the possibility of him in today's NBA where social media could provide constant criticism. The paragraph ends with the player reflecting on how his approach to handling loss and motivation changed after becoming a parent.

05:01

🎭 The Transition and Grieving After Retirement

The speaker, likely an ex-athlete, shares his experience of the grieving period that follows retirement from a high-level sport like the NBA. He talks about the emotional struggle of no longer being the dominant player he once was and the sadness that came with it. He reflects on his decision to decline a financial offer from his team when he felt he was not performing up to his usual standards. The speaker also discusses the realization that he was no longer the same player and how that was a difficult acceptance. He talks about the lack of activity and purpose after retirement, which led to a period of idleness and weight gain until he was offered a role in sports commentary that reignited his energy and directed him towards new endeavors.

10:02

⏳ Reflecting on NBA Career and Embracing the Present

The speaker, a former NBA player, talks about the moment of realization that he could no longer perform at his previous high level and the depression that followed. He expresses empathy for other players who must face a similar decline and the darkness he felt when he could no longer be the player he once was. The speaker also discusses his mindset of always looking forward to the next challenge rather than dwelling on past achievements. He talks about gaining a new appreciation for life and age after hearing a comedian's perspective on life expectancy, which inspired him to make the most of the time he has left. The paragraph concludes with the speaker's intention to engage in youthful activities, like going to a water park and skydiving, to maintain his vitality and enjoy life to the fullest.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Motivation

Motivation refers to the psychological drive or state that encourages an individual to take action towards a goal. In the video, the speaker mentions using slights or perceived disrespect as a source of motivation to perform better in basketball games, which is central to the theme of overcoming challenges and using them as fuel for success.

💡Family and Support

Family and support are essential elements in an individual's life, providing emotional and practical assistance. The speaker talks about his family and how they have always been there to provide him with the necessary motivation and feedback, highlighting the importance of a strong support system in personal and professional development.

💡Domination in Sports

Domination in sports refers to a player's ability to control the game and outperform their opponents. The speaker reflects on his past experiences where he felt the need to be dominant in every game, which is a testament to his competitive spirit and the high standards he set for himself as an athlete.

💡Retirement

Retirement is the act of leaving one's job or career, typically after long service. The video discusses the speaker's transition into retirement from the NBA and the emotional and psychological adjustments he faced, including the grieving period for his athletic career and the search for new motivations and purposes.

💡Grieving Period

A grieving period is a time of sadness and adjustment following a significant loss. In the context of the video, the speaker describes the emotional challenges he faced after retiring from professional basketball, which was a significant part of his identity. This concept is key to understanding the psychological impact of retirement on athletes.

💡Self-Reflection

Self-reflection involves looking inward to examine one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The speaker talks about accepting the truth in criticisms and reflecting on his changing abilities as an athlete, which is a form of self-reflection that helps him come to terms with his transition from active player to retired individual.

💡Legacy

Legacy refers to the lasting impact or impression that someone leaves after their lifetime or departure from a particular role. The speaker discusses his legacy in basketball, including his achievements and the subjective nature of comparing his career with others, which is an important aspect of how he is perceived in the sport.

💡Adaptation

Adaptation is the process of adjusting to new conditions. The video script illustrates the speaker's adaptation to life after basketball, including his initial struggle with finding a new purpose and eventually finding energy and direction in new ventures like commentating for TNT.

💡Appreciation for Life

Appreciation for life is the recognition and enjoyment of the value of existence. The speaker shares how a comedian's special made him realize the limited time we have and inspired him to make the most out of life, reflecting on the importance of living fully and enjoying every moment.

💡Youth and Aging

Youth and aging are stages in the human life cycle. The video touches on the speaker's new perspective on aging, his desire to remain youthful in spirit, and his plans to engage in activities typically associated with younger individuals, such as going to a water park or skydiving, which demonstrates a positive approach to aging.

💡Professional Identity

Professional identity is the self-concept derived from one's profession or career. The speaker's transition from being a dominant basketball player to a retired individual struggling to find his new identity is a central theme in the video, illustrating the challenges of redefining oneself after a significant career change.

Highlights

Basketball player used slights as motivation during games

Family and organization played a role in motivating the player

The player got more dominant when motivated by others

The player would seek out articles and comments about himself to fuel his motivation

Having children helped the player manage his emotions after losses

The player experienced a grieving period after retiring from the NBA

The player struggled with the realization that he was no longer the dominant player he once was

The player had difficulty adjusting to life after basketball, leading to feelings of sadness and depression

The player's motivation came from a desire to prove doubters wrong

The player had a variety of interests outside of basketball, including acting, commercials, investments, and music

The player has a new appreciation for life and wants to make the most of his remaining years

The player plans to go skydiving and visit a water park this summer to embrace his youth

The player took his kids to Disney World and had a great time experiencing the park in a new way

The player reflects on the challenges of transitioning from a dominant player to a veteran role on a team

The player emphasizes the importance of focusing on what you are doing now, rather than reflecting on past accomplishments

The player discusses the impact of aging on his mindset and how he has come to accept and embrace it

The player shares his desire to continue challenging himself and trying new things, rather than resting on his laurels

Transcripts

00:00

I an observation and correct me if I'm

00:02

wrong an observation and I'm floating it

00:04

out there um I I I I I get the sense

00:10

that you particularly as a as a

00:13

basketball player you were looking for

00:17

slights as motivation is that accurate

00:20

yes that's very and the matter I get

00:22

even within a game yes and the matter I

00:24

got the more dominant I played yeah you

00:26

know good thing about my family my

00:28

organization they always tell me

00:31

like this this guy right here we grew up

00:32

there that's my little cousin CNY so I

00:34

brought him to Orlando with me

00:36

so we were doing our thing and and like

00:38

if you're not a great player I don't get

00:40

motivated for it ain't nothing I just I

00:42

can't so I I used to get killed by Big

00:45

Country I don't know why so one time we

00:48

playing him and he [ __ ] killing me

00:50

and now I look at him in the stands and

00:51

he in front of everybody the [ __ ] you

00:53

doing this [ __ ] killing you so

00:55

now he EMB brassed me now I'm mad now I

00:57

can play so I've always had you know

01:00

people like that around me but yeah I

01:01

need little things to to get me going

01:04

whether it's an article that somebody

01:05

said or something ear did did you seek

01:08

it out or did you hope that your your

01:09

people around you would would tell you

01:11

things both I would I would [ __ ] I would

01:14

watch ESPN you would have [ __ ] dude I

01:16

cannot imagine you in today's NBA like

01:22

oh this is this is Shaq in the locker

01:23

room for a game just scrolling Twitter

01:26

looking for comments looking for [ __ ]

01:28

and you know what's crazy every day get

01:29

home from I'm going to Google Shaquille

01:32

O'Neal and I'm going to read every

01:33

article about me like is that is that

01:35

would would you have done that so hold

01:36

on the answer is yes or no so in Orlando

01:41

when I first got to La if I lose a game

01:43

I tear my house up I had to stop when I

01:46

start having

01:47

children and which actually helped me

01:50

because I'd be [ __ ] mad all the [ __ ]

01:52

all the time like I just come on

01:53

especially especially if you lose by one

01:55

and I miss [ __ ] 10 free throws and I

01:57

shot the night before and my [ __ ] looked

01:59

like your

02:00

[ __ ] like like in the gym I'm you in the

02:03

gym at home but in the game I I don't

02:05

know what the [ __ ] happened so I would

02:06

[ __ ] go crazy Windows Furniture TVs

02:10

but my first child which was a little

02:12

girl I had I had like soon as I walk in

02:14

the door I had to turn that off and it

02:16

actually helped me cuz it brought me

02:18

away from the game but before that it

02:19

was always the game the game the game

02:21

the game the game [ __ ] you shut the [ __ ]

02:23

up and then like you said you would you

02:25

had [ __ ] Behavior I had [ __ ]

02:27

Behavior yeah I was a [ __ ] to

02:30

everybody did any of that carry over in

02:34

your retirement from the NBA looking for

02:37

slights yes and no okay so when I so

02:41

when I retired and I hate using the DW

02:43

because I know there's a lot of people

02:44

that are very

02:46

depressed so let's just say very sad

02:48

okay

02:49

cuz my plan was to when I go to Boston

02:53

was it was only one thing I got to pass

02:55

up world chambering and I had it all

02:58

thing I need to average nine 10 points I

03:00

could do that I was doing that anyway

03:01

cuz I was in the Sha in Boston so I got

03:04

hurt after year

03:05

one cuz my plan was after I pass up Will

03:09

Chamberlain I was going to have a press

03:11

conference and arrogantly say I don't

03:13

ever want to hear nobody else's [ __ ]

03:15

name I'm the most dant big man ever but

03:17

now you can say will he has more points

03:19

I have more championships it's

03:21

subjective I'm fine with that but if I

03:23

would have passed him up in points

03:26

wasn't going to be no debate so I wanted

03:27

to do that so anyway got hurt had a year

03:30

left I didn't plan that far I wanted to

03:33

do the Shaq farewell tour I didn't plan

03:35

that far so I'm at the house just

03:36

sitting I was doing [ __ ] I never done

03:38

before like going out talking to

03:39

neighbors and [ __ ] Tom how are you like

03:42

[ __ ] I would go out of my house cold of

03:44

my slippers and just be trying to talk

03:46

to people so I wasn't doing anything and

03:49

then I did the uh retirement ceremony in

03:51

my house and TNT was there and like I I

03:53

wasn't plan on doing NBA commentating I

03:56

just I just didn't have a plan so for

03:59

those 2 three months I was just sitting

04:00

in the house like and then it was nobody

04:03

in there but me 100,000 ft house it was

04:06

just me and like the chef would come I

04:08

just be like go home I just sitting

04:10

there and I was starting to get fat like

04:12

Kendrick and Chuck and I was just

04:14

sitting there looking all all crazy

04:18

and and then TNT came and kind of you

04:21

know restarted and you know once I once

04:24

I plugged it in then I could started you

04:26

know I got more energy you know to I

04:29

started do doing other things it's

04:32

interesting to hear you talk about that

04:34

time

04:35

period

04:37

um because of everything else you had

04:41

done right you you and I wasn't even

04:44

going to bring this up but it just it it

04:46

strikes me you had been in movies you

04:50

had massive amount of commercials

04:53

massive amount of Investments uh

04:56

obviously your your your rap albums um

04:58

so you had this other

05:01

stuff and yet there was still a period I

05:04

would call it I talked about this the

05:06

other day on Dan lebatard show there's

05:08

like a I don't want to be dramatic you

05:10

you use the dword I don't want to use

05:11

the other dword which is death but when

05:13

you retire as an athlete there's a

05:15

grieving period it is and it doesn't

05:18

matter what you were able to accomplish

05:20

because you accomplished more than

05:22

[ __ ] 99.9% of NBA players there there

05:26

still exists that grieving period what

05:29

what for you have you reflected at all

05:31

on that grieving period like what was it

05:33

that you that you sort of were sad

05:36

about not being

05:39

him but you didn't feel like you were

05:41

him no him him is 28 10 [ __ ] average

05:46

nine points in Boston I felt like I was

05:48

robbing the

05:49

people I felt so bad that when they

05:51

called me back and said hey man we owe

05:53

you 1.5 I said [ __ ] keep

05:55

it keep it I'm I'm not coming up to the

05:58

average six points and no so that that

06:01

part was and then and then when you read

06:03

it like I'm the type when I read it I

06:05

see if there's some truth in the

06:07

criticism Shaq's not the Shaq anymore I

06:10

have to accept it like when you start

06:12

[ __ ] doing this to get a [ __ ] dunk

06:15

it's

06:16

gone and the crazy thing is I was

06:18

dominant for so long I never even

06:19

thought about the hey one day it's going

06:21

to be gone process and that [ __ ] was

06:23

starting to go so that was I'm not him

06:26

anymore that that that that right there

06:28

killed me and then I'm not playing

06:30

anymore like it first hit me when I

06:32

didn't make the All-Star team I had to

06:34

act like oh I'm old the player but I'm

06:36

like bro I dominated the allar game for

06:38

12 13 years in a row now I don't even

06:40

get no [ __ ] votes so that part kind

06:43

of kind of messed me up and then being

06:46

injured and not playing and not having

06:47

anything to do like all all that other

06:50

stuff was cool but you have to

06:51

understand I'm programmed to do more

06:53

like once I do something and I

06:55

accomplish it I forget about it that's

06:57

why I like talking to Old players they

06:58

tell me [ __ ] don't remember like once I

07:00

do something it's over with I got to do

07:02

something else you got to do the next

07:04

thing I got to do the next thing and I

07:05

don't you know I don't you know reflect

07:08

on my Laurels and oh I did this and I

07:10

did that that [ __ ] don't matter because

07:12

it ain't it ain't what you've done is

07:14

what are you doing now so I'm just and

07:16

then that keeps me young that keeps me

07:18

young I have a new appreciation for age

07:24

uh you know who Dion Cole is Deon Cole

07:26

yeah he's a comedian okay LeBron knows

07:29

him

07:30

so he did a special one day why do you

07:32

say LeBron knows him like why why is

07:33

that important cuz he's a comedian why

07:36

do you like why like you could have said

07:38

anybody KN knew Dion Cole was why Lebron

07:40

I'm just saying cuz he's a black

07:41

comedian and I know LeBron watches black

07:43

you probably don't watch black comedy

07:45

which is cool I watch white comedy you

07:47

know I used to watch all all types of

07:49

[ __ ] unfortunately all I do now is watch

07:50

the [ __ ] NBA yeah I know so watch the

07:53

TV show in like three years so anyway he

07:56

he had he had a special and he was like

07:59

well 40y olders at and Dion's our age my

08:02

age he said where the 50y olders at then

08:05

he says 20 Summers

08:06

left and that [ __ ] me up you know what

08:09

that means MH in 20 Summers I'm going to

08:11

be [ __ ]

08:13

70 so I got a new appreciation for life

08:15

I'm doing every [ __ ] thing I can and

08:17

having fun and not giving a [ __ ] about

08:20

anything or anyone and just be

08:22

respectful about it and then cuz I'm 52

08:25

so I got 18 sumers left so I'm glad he

08:28

did that gave me a new perspective cuz

08:30

I'm still doing young people [ __ ] we me

08:33

me and my cousin the other day we saw a

08:35

shopping cart and we cuz like when we

08:37

were little we used to take the shopping

08:39

carts and [ __ ] Groll down Hills so I

08:42

told him I said hey let's get this

08:43

[ __ ] shopping cart and roll down hill

08:45

man [ __ ] you I ain't doing it like he's

08:47

younger than me but he's like man I'm

08:48

not doing that [ __ ] I'm 40 years old I

08:50

want to be young you know what I'm going

08:52

to do this summer I'm going to go to a

08:53

[ __ ] water park I am slide down the

08:56

[ __ ] slide I am I'm a [ __ ] sky di

08:59

I am I'm going to do it you want to do

09:01

it with me skydiving me you and

09:04

LeBron if y'all [ __ ] do it I'll do it

09:07

all right this is a bit now this is a

09:09

bit LeBron thing's a bit it's a bit

09:12

that's your partner see see you don't

09:14

even see you look at me as a hater you

09:16

don't understand what I'm doing I'm

09:18

[ __ ]

09:19

marketing got what I actually have a I

09:23

have a no no don't don't go if you and

09:25

LeBron go skydiving I'll do it no I was

09:27

gonna say I I legit have like a a weird

09:29

desire to skydive if you and LeBron go

09:32

skydiving I'll do it bro by the way I

09:35

are you going to do it yeah for sure

09:37

yeah yeah do I'm sure LeBron and the

09:39

Lakers would [ __ ] just really jump on

09:42

board with that dude I I took my kids to

09:46

Disney World in

09:48

February you talk about like a an

09:51

experience that makes you appreciate

09:52

life was like the most fun I've had in

09:55

years did you do did you do it the

09:57

regular way or the VIP way the VIP way

10:00

man I didn't make your type of money but

10:01

I made enough I did it the regular way

10:04

[ __ ] out of here you did it the regular

10:06

way we stood in

10:07

line in the back of the

10:11

line first time I did it regular way and

10:13

then after that I I did you know the VIP

10:16

way when I played there I took my niece

10:17

there she was probably like four or five

10:19

at the time I played in Orlando and I

10:21

did it the regular way and um and I was

10:24

just like I'm not doing that again is

10:26

it's I like efficiency with my time

10:29

right I like efficiency with my time um

10:33

I just want to make one comment to you

10:35

because I and I really appreciate you

10:37

you saying what you said about not being

10:40

him um for all of us that have

10:44

participated at the highest level played

10:47

in the NBA we all have to face that

10:51

moment uh that was also very difficult

10:54

for me and and I I didn't realize it

10:58

until the moment came

11:00

I always was like yeah you know what I I

11:02

can be I can be uh no offense to him but

11:04

I I I'll I'll do the Udonis hasm thing

11:06

I'll be on a roster and and be a leader

11:09

and be a good vet you know look after

11:11

the young guys help the coaching staff

11:12

with the interpersonal stuff like I was

11:15

convinced I was I was I could do that

11:17

when I got to the end and I couldn't be

11:20

myself on the court when I lost whatever

11:23

juice I had personally and I couldn't be

11:25

myself I was like I I it was dark man

11:29

was depressing and I and I always say

11:32

that i' I've told I've told this to

11:33

people and I've talked about this before

11:35

but I [ __ ] cannot

11:38

imagine what it's like to be him and

11:42

then have to go through

11:44

that it's difficult it is

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Tags associés
Basketball MotivationCareer ReflectionRetirement TransitionLife PerspectiveSports LegendMotivational SpeakerNBA StarFamily ValuesMedia InfluencePerformance PressureAge AppreciationLeisure ActivitiesDisney WorldSkydiving Adventure
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