The news caught Shaquille O’Neal by surprise.
“Seriously?” O’Neal said with a hint of both excitement and disbelief.
The news sounded good to O’Neal’s ears. But he sounded initially reluctant toward listening.
“You’re playing,” O’Neal said.
But late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel pleaded for O’Neal to hear him out.
“Seriously, I swear to God,” Kimmel said. “This is not a prank.”
Kimmel had just revealed to O’Neal on Wednesday night that the Lakers will construct a statue of him outside of Staples Center. Kimmel unveiled an artist rendering that shows O’Neal offering one of his powerful dunks.