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FULL Q&A: Shaquille O'Neal Has 'No Interest in Basketball' as He Dives Into New Futuristic Endeavor: 'I Retired Years Ago'

What made him spend big and bet on innovation.

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The Group Chat
May 13, 2026
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Basketball may have made him a household name – but these days, Shaquille O’Neal is focused on something entirely different.

In an exclusive chat with OK! Senior Editor Rebecca Friedman, the NBA legend opens up about stepping away from the game and diving into a bold new venture, teaming up with tm:rw – a futuristic retail and innovation experience in New York City’s Times Square – as an investor, partner, and global ambassador.

Photo of Shaquille O'Neal.

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REBECCA: You’ve really mastered post-NBA success in a way few athletes have. When you decide to partner with someone, what is it about Nathalie (Bernce) that makes her such a successful and inspiring female CEO in such a unique industry?

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