Shaquille O’Neal realized he packed more underwear than necessary for the Winter Olympics, and he’s now explaining the reason behind it.
Overpacking is a common issue for many, whether it’s preparing for unpredictable weather, spontaneous trips, or unplanned dinner outings. It’s easy to misjudge the amount of clothing or essentials you’ll actually use.
Even Shaq, the celebrated NBA Hall of Famer, has found himself guilty of tossing too many undergarments into his suitcase when he could have been more selective. The 53-year-old arrived in Italy on February 15 to support the launch of a Team USA Athlete Recovery Program.
The towering 7-foot-1 ex-athlete disclosed what he packed and the rationale for his choices.
“I overpacked, I’m a panicker,” he told People. “I always start with the underwear, and for some reason, I thought I was going to be here for 10 days, so I brought 20 underwear and 20 tank tops, then I’ve got an extra give in case I work out.”
O’Neal also brought along ‘five pairs of jeans, plus sweats,’ among other things.
He mentioned that he is excited to witness figure skating at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan.
While his height offers numerous advantages on the basketball court, it has its challenges. During his 19-year career, he achieved significant milestones, including winning an Olympic gold medal in 1996.
However, one challenge is fitting into sports cars. The former Miami Heat player was asked if he ever wished to be slightly smaller.
Shaq mentioned that the ‘only time’ he’s wanted to be shorter was concerning ‘driving sports cars’.
To accommodate his size in cars from brands like Ferrari and Lamborghini, Shaq had them specially customized.
“They’ve got these Lamborghinis and Ferraris … [and] I used to have to buy two, shrink them up, spend a crazy amount of money and take the convertible part off to make myself fit,” he informed People in a different discussion.
“But that’s the only time I’ve wished I was smaller, so I can get into some of these expensive sports cars.”
“Other than that, I’ve never had that thought process,” he added.
Shaq also received a custom ‘Cyberbeast’ truck, a formidable vehicle featuring a wide body, 26-inch wheels, and customized LED underbody glow lights. The truck is wrapped in gloss black with black mirrors and additional lights on the front bumper, rounding out the impressive modifications.