“I’m a hookah man” – When Shaquille O’Neal responded to fans alleging he was stoned at the NBA finals

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 28, 2025, 19:30 IST

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A video of Shaquille O'Neal and Paul Pierce at an NBA Finals game sparked rumors of cannabis use, fueled by O'Neal's sunglasses and Pierce's demeanor. Social media users speculated about edibles, but O'Neal quickly denied the claims, stating he doesn't use edibles and attributing the sunglasses to his 'shining' personality, further clarifying his preference for hookah.

“I’m a hookah man” – When Shaquille O’Neal responded to fans alleging he was stoned at the NBA finals

Shaquille O’Neal. Image via: Imagn Images

We are taking a trip down memory lane to revisit the time when Shaquille O'Neal was rumoured to be stoned at an NBA finals. During an ABC broadcast, Shaquille O'Neal and Paul Pierce were spotted courtside last year at the TD Garden in Boston. A video surfaced on the internet that caught the attention of many fans online, who alleged that they were under the influence of cannabis.

Were Shaquille O'Neal and Paul Pierce stoned at the NBA Finals?

Shaquille O’Neal and Paul Pierce at NBA Finals. Image via: Getty Images

After a video of Shaquille O'Neal and Paul Pierce surfaced on the internet, fans started questioning if the duo were stoned, as Shaquille had worn sunglasses and Pierce had an anxious expression. They suggested that they had consumed cannabis edibles during Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
NBA on TNT had shared a tweet that read, "The Big Diesel x The Truth". Commenting on the same, a user wrote, "Them n*ggas sauced". Another user wrote, "Paul Pierce looks high as the sky". The incident gained further traction when a famed podcaster, Travonne Edwards, shared a screenshot of the duo at courtside and captioned it, "this edible ain't s---".

Shaquille O'Neal took to the internet the very next day to set the record straight. Posting on X, he wrote, "Shaq don't do edibles you dummy, stop tryna get noticed with dumb a** tweets." He further continued, "I'm in sunglasses cause im shining dummy, everybody knows I'm a hookah man." Replying to the tweet, a user wrote, "Should've told Paul Pierce to throw some sunglasses too."
Also Read: Shaquille O'Neal reveals what stunned him about LeBron James' rise- "This motherf***er was doing sh*t I never did"
O'Neal and Pierce were teammates briefly with the Boston Celtics. Paul Pierce's nickname of 'The Truth' was given to him by Shaq after an extraordinary performance against the Lakers. After the game, Shaquille shared, "My name is Shaquille O’Neal & Paul Pierce is the motherf**king truth. Quote me on that and don’t take nothing out. I knew he could play, but I didn’t know he could play like this. Paul Pierce is 'The Truth.'" Ever since, the duo have continued to be close friends.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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