NOTHING HURT MORE THAN KOBE –
Aug. 14, 2025 – During the height of his NBA career, Shaquille O’Neal was getting by with help from a steady flow of painkillers.
Shaq, 53, revealed to Dax Shepard during a recent appearance on his “Armchair Expert” podcast that he “had to be on pain pills to play” during his 19-year career. The former Los Angeles Lakers center said he was using “homeboy math” when it came to his dosage.
“If it said take one, I’m taking three … I had to have them, so is that addiction?” he questioned, admitting he “didn’t know” he was addicted at the time.
“Is addicting for the chemical effect or are you just taking it? Because I was having a heated discussion with my doctors like, ‘You were addicted.’ But I didn’t feel high,” O’Neal continued. “I don’t think I was suffering mentally. I think if I had a knack, I would take it [because] I don’t want to feel that knack because we need this game.”
