The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation & Icy Hot unveil the newest “Comebaq Court,” refurbished athletic areas serving to underserved communities get again within the recreation, in collaboration with Alonzo Mourning at Overtown Youth Center in Miami, Flori on November 30, 2022.
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NBA champions Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning are reuniting to provide followers purpose to cheer once more in Miami.
The former Heat facilities, who introduced Miami an NBA championship in 2006, are teaming as much as refurbish a basketball court docket as a part of a $20 million renovation at a youth middle in South Beach. The venture is funded by the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation and its longtime associate Icy Hot, as a part of their Comebaq Courts program that fixes up rundown courts.
Comebaq Courts has additionally refurbished basketball courts in Las Vegas, Nevada and Newark, New Jersey.
The newest “Comebaq Court” is situated in Miami, inside Mourning’s Overtown Youth Center.
“When I got drafted in 1992, the first thing my mom said to me was ‘Baby, now that you’re rich and famous, you have a responsibility’,” O’Neal mentioned. “She said all these kids look up to you, you have to say the right thing and do the right thing.”
The dedication to giving again was among the many subjects O’Neal and Mourning mentioned in an interview with CNBC that included a weighing in on the state of the NBA and pickleball. They famous they wish to pay it ahead and make sure the subsequent technology has the assets to win on and off the court docket.
“Shaq and I didn’t get here by ourselves. We got here because of the contributions of other people. I’m very fortunate and I know he is very fortunate for those people to help us get to this point,” Mourning mentioned.
O’Neal mentioned he grew up within the tasks of Newark, New Jersey. His father insisted that he go throughout the road to the Boys & Girls Club to remain out of hassle. That’s the place he developed his basketball recreation and a ardour for being a disc jockey.
“Basketball was a life-changing event for me. It’s helped me stay out of trouble,” O’Neal mentioned.
The newly renovated court docket is slated to reopen in 2023.
Pickleball
With professional basketball within the rearview mirror for the previous NBA stars, CNBC requested about America’s hottest new sport: pickleball.
“I think we’ll stick with the basketball court,” Mourning mentioned with fun. “Don’t get me wrong, but it is more designed for an older generation.”
O’Neal expressed extra curiosity: “I’m actually looking at investing in a team. I’m still thinking about it,” he mentioned.
O’Neal mentioned his son got here to him just lately with the funding concept. Pickleball has seen explosive development in each contributors and funding cash, together with from basketball stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant and group homeowners Mark Cuban and Wes Edens.
“I had a chance to play it a couple of times, you know, so it’s pretty entertaining. You can get an incredible workout and you know, so I like it. I really do,” mentioned Mourning.
State of the NBA
O’Neal and Mourning additionally shared their ideas on the state of the NBA.
Mourning praised NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for doing “an incredible job,” and joked that he wished he have been taking part in at this time, a nod to greater contacts and endorsement cash.
“The pie is extremely big from these TV contracts and the players are reaping the benefits. So yeah, the game is in a good place,” Mourning mentioned.
O’Neal additionally provided recommendation to at this time’s NBA gamers: Don’t overlook your youngest followers.
“They [the fans] pay a lot of money for what you collect. So, I urge you guys to keep playing hard, keep playing well, don’t just take the money and disappear. … But think about the little kid that’s wearing your jersey.”
