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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 27 June 2018
Shaq on his Hollywood plans: 'I want to be the next Rock'

By JAKE COYLE O'Neal: No, I would have
Associated Press played the same way. Be-
NEW YORK (AP) — Shaquille cause you can't score 40
O'Neal is already known by points a night shooting
many names. Superman. jumpers. Nobody has, no-
The Diesel. The Big Aristotle. body will. But you can score
But he would like to add 40 points a night shooting
another to the list: Movie 60, 70 percent inside the
Star. paint. The fact that guys
In "Uncle Drew," which are shooting jumpers, that's
opens Friday, he plays just telling me they don't like
one of the former basket- physical contact. Shooting
ball stars (all of them real jumpers is easy. Anybody
pros under heavy old-man can shoot a jumper. But
makeup) reunited by Ky- can you bang a guy four
rie Irving's titular character of five times and then still
(first created for a TV ad) have enough to score two
to compete in a street-ball points for your team?
tournament at Harlem's AP: You think the league
Rucker Park. Shaq's char- has gotten soft.
acter, known as Big Fella, is O'Neal: Of course.
found running a martial arts AP: The Lakers are rumored
dojo. to be a likely landing spot
But post-NBA life has been for LeBron James. Do you
far more successful for the want that to happen?
four-time NBA champion. O'Neal: I just want the Lak-
He's an analyst on TNT's "In- ers to be like they were
side the NBA," a popular back in the day. I want
pitchman and an active somebody that can beat
entrepreneur and inves- Golden State. Golden
tor. He has dabbled in ev- This image released by Lionsgate shows Shaquille O'Neal as Big Fella in a scene from the film, State has turned into mad-
erything from professional "Uncle Drew." ness. The thing that would
wrestling to law enforce- Associated Press make me very excited is if
ment. LeBron James and Kawhi
He's even a voice setting to see you and Charles Bar- and beat up all the bad AP: Favorite movie? Leonard came to the Lak-
on the Waze navigation kley play one-on-one. guys. O'Neal: Oh, "Stepbrothers." ers. Then you'd have prob-
app. This summer he will O'Neal: Yeah, Charles AP: It's been 24 years since All day, every day. I know lems in the West. Then bas-
tour under the name DJ would lose. your big-screen debut, that movie by heart. ketball would be fun again.
Diesel. AP: Your post-NBA career "Blue Chips." Do you feel AP: What else do you like? AP: Have you ever talked
"Uncle Drew" is just one has been uncommonly like a veteran actor? O'Neal: I just got done to Kyrie Irving about his flat
of the projects that the busy. Why? O'Neal: Well, I have shot watching "Justice League." Earth beliefs ?
46-year-old O'Neal has go- O'Neal: Seventy percent 15 movies. I always tell my I thought it was pretty O'Neal: No, because I said
ing. Among his favorites is of all professional athletes friends I shot 15 movies but good. But they held Super- it too. But I was playing.
a TBS show he's develop- have nothing, not even a they say, "Yeah, but if you man out too long. AP: You were in make-up
ing with Ken Jeong. Com- job, after they're done. The play Shaq in nine of the AP: In vogue in today's NBA for four hours a day for
paring their chemistry to fact that I couldn't even movies, that's not really are big men who can shoot "Uncle Drew." How did you
Chris Tucker and Jackie call a franchise to get an acting." I say, "You make a from the perimeter . Could pass the time?
Chan, O'Neal says it will be interview to be a coach good point." I'm just happy you have developed a O'Neal: Sleep. When I woke
"'Seinfeld"-epic-ish." frightened me. So nothing to have the opportunity. three-point game? up, it still wasn't done.q
In an interview, O'Neal was simple. Educate your-
spoke about his big plans self, be nice to people and
in Hollywood, why the NBA save your money. If you do
has gotten soft and where that, you should be OK.
he hopes LeBron James AP: You have numerous TV
lands this off-season. shows and films in develop-
AP: What do you miss about ment. What are your Holly-
playing in the NBA? wood aspirations?
O'Neal: I miss all of it. I miss O'Neal: I want to be as big
interacting with the fans. I as Rock.
miss having the unexpect- AP: Dwayne Johnson is the
ed adrenaline rush, the biggest movie star on the
doubts, the fear, overcom- planet. That's setting a high
ing the fear. I miss every- bar.
thing. O'Neal: We come from the
AP: Do you play anymore? same place: athletes that
O'Neal: No, not at all. transition. That's my goal. I
AP: How come? want similar type movies. I
O'Neal: I ain't got it. Right want to get thrillers. I want
now, I'm relinquishing all my to get dramas. I want to do
powers to my son who's go- comedies. I want to be the
ing to UCLA . next Rock. I want to do a
AP: That's a shame. I'd love thriller where I'm like a hero