NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal is in discussions to invest in Premier League football club West Ham United. The basketball icon, who has a diverse portfolio of business interests, is keen on acquiring a stake in one of England’s most historic teams.
The ex-Los Angeles Lakers superstar was spotted at a game at the London Stadium last season and, as per The Sun, he is contemplating becoming the latest high-profile name from North America to invest in British football. Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have seen significant success since their acquisition of Welsh club Wrexham in 2021.
This trend has been followed by several others, with seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady owning a stake in third-tier club Birmingham City, while actor Will Ferrell and golfing stars Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are investors in Leeds United.
“Shaq loves British football and he has been talking about putting some serious cash into the club,” an anonymous source told The Sun. “He went to a game at the end of the season and loved it. It’s now a case of whether the financials stack up for him. Shaq is really interested in what deal he could strike.”
Shaq’s successful career extends beyond the court, having won four NBA titles and being named finals MVP three times. His retirement has also seen him make numerous savvy business deals.
The 52-year-old tycoon, with a reported net worth of a staggering $500 million, made a savvy investment move early on by putting $1m into Ring doorbells. His golden touch paid off when the company was snapped up by Amazon for an eye-watering $1 billion.
His portfolio doesn’t end there; he’s got his fingers in several pies, including Reebok, JC Penny, and Lyft. Over at West Ham, the ownership scene is dominated by a few key players, with David Sullivan holding the lion’s share at 38.8 percent. The 75-year-old mogul, who amassed his wealth through the adult entertainment industry, is the club’s largest shareholder.
Not far behind is Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, who has a significant 27 percent stake in the Hammers. Meanwhile, the 15-time All-Star has not only dazzled on the court but also shone in the broadcasting arena. However, clouds are gathering over the future of the much-lauded “Inside The NBA” due to a fierce battle for broadcasting rights. Warner Bros. Discovery, which operates TNT, hasn’t managed to clinch the NBA broadcasting rights post-2025 season.
TNT has been a stalwart partner for the NBA, but it seems they might be edged out by a new deal that favours Disney the powerhouse behind ESPN and ABC and includes fresh faces like NBC and Amazon. This could spell the end for “Inside The NBA”, helmed by Ernie Johnson and featuring a panel of basketball royalty including O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith.
Since its inception in 1989, the show has become a highly respected sports programme on television, bagging 19 Sports Emmy Awards. Amidst this uncertainty, Barkley has declared that the upcoming season will be his final one as a broadcaster.
With O’Neal likely to have more free time, it’s anticipated that he’ll be spotted at Premier League matches more frequently in the future.
