How Shaquille O’Neal Found a New Passion Behind The Turntables After Retirement From Basketball
Shaquille O’Neal, known worldwide as an NBA legend, has discovered a new way to keep the adrenaline pumping long after his basketball career ended. At 52, Shaq has transformed into DJ Diesel, taking the music scene by storm and finding a surprising new passion.
“I started DJing because it gives me the same adrenaline boost that a championship game would give me,” Shaq revealed in an interview with PEOPLE. For the former basketball star, the thrill of performing in front of a crowd as a DJ fills the void left after his retirement from the NBA.
After hanging up his jersey, Shaq found himself in an unfamiliar position—uncertain about how to spend his time. “I was lost because I had planned to retire two years after I retired. So I wasn’t really prepared,” he explained.
Having played basketball since he was 14 years old, Shaq missed the rush of stepping into the arena, the anticipation, and the high-energy moments that came with every game.
It was at a concert where Shaq rediscovered that familiar feeling. “I went to this concert and I got the same feeling again. I was like, ‘You know what? I used to do this. Let me see if I can pick it up again,’” he said.
That decision led to the birth of DJ Diesel, a persona that allows Shaq to relive the excitement he once felt on the basketball court.
Though DJing only lasts about an hour and a half, the joy it brings Shaq is undeniable. Beyond the turntables, Shaq keeps himself busy with a packed schedule, something he doesn’t take for granted. “One of my mottos is, ‘It could be worse.’ I haven’t played professional basketball in 20 years, but yet I’m still working and my schedule is full. I’m thankful for that,” he said.
Shaq acknowledges how fortunate he is to have found a second career that keeps him engaged and active. “I know a lot of people in my position don’t have anything going on, they just wake up and are lost. So the fact that I’m working, it’s a blessing. So any job I can get, I’ll just continue to do because one day I’ll be in that position where I won’t be able to do it anymore,” he stated.
For Shaql, life after basketball isn’t about slowing down—it’s about finding new ways to keep the energy alive, one DJ set at a time.
As DJ Diesel, he hopes to keep the party going for many more years. “Hopefully I can go another 10, 20 years,” he said.
“But if not, I had fun doing it and doing it my way,” he added.
