Shaq arrives as police officer’s ‘back-up’ for kids’ basketball game

Shaq made a surprise appearance to play basketball with some kids and police officers in Gainesville, Florida.

Can you imagine playing a pick-up game of basketball with legendary NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal? Because that’s exactly what happened this week in Gainesville, Florida, for a bunch of neighborhood kids.

A Florida police cruiser’s dash-cam video captured Officer Bobby White responding to a complaint last week that some local kids were being too loud playing basketball outside on a Gainesville street. But instead of telling the kids to stop, Officer White asked to join in the game, much to the kids’ surprise.

Before long, more of the neighborhood’s youth had joined in the game, and Officer White was captured on film telling the kids he was “glad to see y’all doing this than out there causing problems.” After learning the kids play basketball out there every day, the policeman jokingly promised “to bring back-up” next time.

The video went viral, and it caught the attention of one of the most prominent basketball figures on earth. Shaquille O’Neal heard about the story and flew into Gainesville to surprise the kids, arriving in a police escort and waiting for Officer White to introduce him as the promised back-up.

What followed was a fun game of pick-up basketball between a bunch of kids, a bunch of cops, and one very, very large man.

The news story has brought praise for all parties involved, particularly the police officer for responding to the initial complaint in a positive manner. And of course, kudos to Shaq for taking time to make those kids’ days.