Shaquille O’Neal Trolls Charles Barkley While Graduating with New Degree from LSU
Shaquille O’Neal Trolls Charles Barkley While Graduating with New Degree from LSU
Skyler CarusoMon, May 18, 2026 at 9:54 PM UTC
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Shaquille O’Neal earns second master's degree from LSU.
Credit: Christopher Hawkins
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Shaquille O'Neal took a playful jab at his longtime pal and co-host Charles Barkley as he accepted his latest Master's degree from LSU on Saturday, May 16
The joke came as the NBA legend's name was announced on the microphone in front of the crowd in attendance
This is O'Neal's fourth university degree
Shaquille O'Neal's resume is growing!
The NBA legend, 54, added to his lengthy list of accomplishments when he received his second Master's degree, a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts (MALA) from LSU on Saturday, May 16 — and in his true jokester fashion, he took a jab at Charles Barkley in the moments before the honor.
O'Neal, who shares a brotherly friendship with his longtime Inside the NBA co-host Barkley, 63, made sure to weave a bit of their chemistry in the seconds before he accepted his degree.
Shaquille O’Neal.
Credit: Christopher Hawkins
O'Neal managed to have the faculty member reading out the names of the degree-earners call him, "Shaquille 'I Hate Charles Barkley' O'Neal," which resulted in an outburst of laughter from the crowd, per a video circulating on social media.
A robe-clad O'Neal, who beamed from ear to ear as his customized name was called, even let out a laugh as he walked onto the stage to claim his certificate. He then waved to the fans and hammed it up with a dance before shaking the professor's hand and accepting his diploma.
O'Neal was committed, though, to earning his degree and stayed the course. His thesis, the "Interdisciplinary Approach to Mentorship through the lens of the epic poem – 'The Odyssey'," aimed to support his position as a mentor to athletes, he said.
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Shaquille O’Neal earns master's degree from LSU.
Credit: Christopher Hawkins
The former Los Angeles Lakers player's latest achievement is his fourth university degree. He now has a Bachelor of General Studies (2000), Master of Business Administration (2005), Doctor of Education (2012) and a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts (2026).
Last month, O'Neal told theNew York Post that he's working on getting a master's in liberal arts, revealing that he "thought about sports psychology, but it was a little too much for me, the psychology field."
Shaquille O'Neal earns degree from LSU.
Credit: Christopher Hawkins
O'Neal opened up about the importance of continuing to hit the books to set an example for his six children — Taahirah, Myles, Shareef, Shaqir, Amirah and Me'arah — and his young fans.
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"We talk about the NIL [student-athlete using their name, image or likeness to earn money], what's going on now. People always go to the money first, but you have to have the education on how to manage the money,” he said.
"So I want my children and those that follow me to say, ‘Okay, he's educated. Maybe I should do it,' " he added.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
