“Give him a chance” – Shaquille O’Neal was one of the rare NBA figures optimistic after Donald Trump won the 2016 election
It’s no secret that the NBA hasn’t been very welcoming of Donald Trump as President of the United States of America. This includes top names such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry, who have been pretty vocal in their criticism of President Trump. Moreover, the two basketball legends have endorsed candidates running against him.
Aside from a few exceptions, such as Dennis Rodman and Latrell Sprewell, the NBA fraternity has largely resented Trump, something he’s certainly aware of. At the same time, big names like Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal have been friends with the 47th President but have avoided voicing their political preferences in public.
Shaquille O’Neal shaking hands with Donald Trump at #UFC314. pic.twitter.com/AxS6Lm20ci
– Pop Crave (@PopCrave) April 13, 2025
When Trump won the 2016 election, there was a lot of hue and cry from certain sections, who made a strong appeal for a recount. This didn’t sit well with O’Neal, who decided to make an exception this time when it came to speaking about politics. The four-time NBA champion dismissed the idea of a recount and felt that Trump had earned his right as President.
“We have a process that’s been going on forever. And whoever wins, you just hope he does what he says he’s going to do. You know, candidate Trump promised a lot of people a lot of things. Now that he’s president-elect, you just hope that he can make the world a better place. He won fair and square. We have to give him a chance. There’s no need talking about recounts and this and that,” stated Shaq in 2016.
An old association
O’Neal and President Trump have known each other for over three decades now. One could say their shared business savvy has a lot to do with it. An example was Trump’s efforts to organize a 1v1 matchup between O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon in 1995, with a $1 million cash prize. Unfortunately, The Dream’s last-minute back injury spilled water all over the plans.
Back in 2005, Shaq and his then-wife, Shaunie Nelson, were among the 400 guests invited to Donald and Melina Trump’s wedding. A generous friend indeed, the Los Angeles Lakers legend gifted the couple a white Rolls-Royce Phantom worth $325,000 for their wedding.
Shaquille O’Neal knows how to make a grand gesture! When Donald Trump married Melania Knauss in 2005, Shaq gifted them a Rolls-Royce Phantom worth $325,000-a gift that went above and beyond typical wedding presents. Shaq joked that Trump could swing by his house to use it… pic.twitter.com/ukXKSvYv8S
– Benzinga (@Benzinga) November 12, 2024
Before Trump officially took office in 2016, O’Neal spoke about his friend’s straightforward nature and how it helped him connect with larger audiences.
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“Donald Trump speaks to an eclectic type of audience. I think personally, Donald’s a friend of mine, I just think he says it wrong. If he can reword some of things he says and put it in business form, it will really make sense, but Donald’s a straight-up guy. If he sees your shirt tucked out, he’ll just say, ‘Tuck your f-king shirt,'” stated the NBA Hall of Famer in a 2015 interview.
Even though this was one of those rare instances when Trump received support from someone in the NBA, there have been some positive developments lately.
Related: Gilbert Arenas revealed the NBA teams’ cheerleader hiring strategy: “There was a point where none of those girls can dance”
Bringing back the NBA’s White House tradition
No championship team has visited the White House under the Trump administration. However, this is set to change soon, courtesy of the New York Knicks, who won the chip this year. Not to mention, it is also the President’s hometown team, which is why he
Additionally, Donald also shares good relations with Knicks owner James Dolan. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see whether this is a one-off or if NBA teams will continue to visit the White House, given that there is still a little over two years left in Trump’s tenure.
Hopefully, as time passes, communication between the two sides improves, since many fans miss the banter that was often on display between previous Presidents and some of the top NBA superstars.
Related: “I redo deals all the time. We gotta redo that deal” – Donald Trump says the Dallas Mavericks trading Luka Doncic was one of the worst deals in sports history
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This story was originally published September 20, 2026 at 6:33 AM.
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