Shaq calls out Magic Johnson from the streets of Spain.
NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal Sends Strong Message to Magic Johnson on Wednesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
While most retired NBA stars relax during the offseason, Shaquille O’Neal is busy doing what he does best—entertaining.
But this week, the Hall of Famer didn’t just drop jokes or play DJ sets. Instead, he sent a loud, funny and very public challenge to fellow Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson, right from the streets of Barcelona.
In a video posted on Instagram on Wednesday, O’Neal sat in the sunshine with a green apple in hand and a playful smirk on his face.
“I’m in Barcelona. I’m looking for Magic Johnson,” O’Neal said. “Hey Magic! I saw you playing basketball on your yacht. I’ve been waiting to do it for a long time, Magic. One on one. Your yacht versus my plane. Matter of fact, I’m about to come look for you. It’s on Magic.”
That wasn’t just talk. O’Neal was serious—or at least as serious as he ever is. The 7-foot-1 icon, currently on his DJ Diesel tour through Europe, started playing detective.
“I called him but he didn’t answer,” he said. “Now it’s time for detective O’Neal to dissect the clues. He’s on a big yacht somewhere by the marina. I saw a Ferris wheel, I saw an orange road, I saw some buildings. Now it’s time to look.”
Despite his effort, O’Neal came up short. “I can’t believe you eluded me for two days, Magic,” he said, clearly amused. Instead of finding Johnson, O’Neal wrapped up the video with a grin and a new friend.
“Well, I’m in Barcelona, I did not find Magic Johnson, but I found a new best friend,” he joked, introducing a smiling local named Julio.
The moment was another page in the long-running camaraderie between O’Neal and Johnson. Though not best friends, the two Lakers greats share a deep mutual respect and a warm relationship built on their shared time with the franchise.
Over the years, they’ve exchanged playful banter both on social media and during appearances on TNT’s Inside the NBA. O’Neal has often referred to Johnson as a mentor, especially during his early Lakers days, while Johnson has praised O’Neal’s mix of dominance and charisma.
But this time, it was a battle of post-retirement lifestyles. Johnson is currently enjoying the Mediterranean summer on his $140 million superyacht, the PHOENIX2, which has everything from luxury pools to a full basketball half-court.
Last week, Johnson shared a video of himself calmly draining jumpers on the yacht’s deck with the Catalonian skyline behind him.
From Yacht Jumpers to Comedy Skits
“It was nice to be back in Barcelona, Spain where I won my gold medal with the Dream Team!” Johnson captioned the video. “I’m back shooting hoops, not in an arena this time, but on a yacht!”
The friendly challenge was all in good fun, though it reflects how O’Neal is spending his summer. Between comedy skits with his son Myles, pick-up games with fans in Germany and performances as DJ Diesel, Shaq has become one of basketball’s most visible off-court personalities.
Just days ago, he posted a hilarious mafia-style skit with Myles on Instagram, ending with a shoutout to Icy Hot, one of his longtime sponsors. He even gave himself the nickname “Dark Nowitzki” while playing in Germany, another playful nod to his comedic side.
While no official response has come from Johnson yet, fans are already buzzing about a possible one-on-one matchup—yacht versus plane—somewhere on the Spanish coast.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
