If you’ve been watching the NBA playoffs, you’ve seen our man Shaq is back in the chair on the set of TNT’s Inside the NBA, with his co-hosts Ernie Johnson, Sir Charles and Kenny Smith.
Just the other night, he got up to walk to the big video wall at the back of the studio, and it was easy to see the big man is still limping a bit, as he continues to recover from hip replacement surgery last month. It’s great to have O’Neal back on the show after his almost month-long absence.
Not only was O’Neal missing from the set of Inside the NBA, he was also taking a break from The Big Podcast With Shaq, his signature social media podcast. Now he’s back to the podcast as well, talking more about his surgery and recovery.
After seeing the outpouring of love and concern during his time away from broadcasting and podcasting, Shaq did spend a good amount of time on the latest podcast thanking fans and friends for their concerns. He also provided an update on his recovery, and how he’s getting ready to start the work of physical rehab soon.
As for the basics of hip replacement, Shaq said that while he’s got another hip, he’s not looking to have the second one replaced, at least not unless it’s absolutely, positively needed.
Shaq: “I’ll never do again [talking about hip replacement surgery] by the way. I’ll never do it again because I can handle pain, but I just don’t like continuous pain.” The big man said right after the surgery, he used prescription painkiller meds, but now that he’s off them, “everything hurts.”
Even the basics of everyday life are apparently not fun at this point. Shaq again: “So when I drive, like right now I’m sitting on this leather thing and my a** cheek is just on fire!”
On the podcast, Shaq talked about how things went with his “two month checkup.” Well, sorry big fella, but it hasn’t been two months since the surgery. Not by a long shot. Podcast co-host Nischelle Turner corrected him on the dates. Podcast sidekick Spice Adams and Nischelle then joked about how the painkillers apparently haven’t worn off yet.
Here at the offices of ShaqFu Radio, we’re wondering what kind of hardware they installed in the big man. Seems pretty obvious that hip replacement parts are “sized” to fit the person they’re going to. A man as big as Shaq must have gotten the Double-Extra Large sized replacement hip!
O’Neal also talked about his upcoming return to his weight-loss journey. He’s been eating right and working out and losing the extra pounds. Of course a hospital stay is not exactly the best way to count calories, so it’s back to work for O’Neal on the path to get down to his target weight of 350 pounds.
Back in playing days, O’Neal had a listed weight of 324 lbs. On the podcast, one of his co-hosts suggested a goal weight of 280! We’re thinking at that weight, Shaq would be a giant-sized frame of skin and bones…but it would be interesting to see! Still, for a man that big, 350 is probably a good number. How much does he weigh now? O’Neal wouldn’t say, but did narrow it down to between 350 to 370 lbs.
