For Shaquille O’Neal, hosting a star-studded award show is just another day at the office.
“I’m just going to get a haircut, shave my beard, and you know, just go to work,” Shaq told Page Six Style on Thursday about hosting the 2019 NBA Awards. “Just put on some cologne, button my shirt, put on my tie, and I’ll be ready to go … It’s very easy.”
The former Lakers player, who moonlights as a disc jockey under the name DJ Deisel, also added that he doesn’t get stage fright and just needs a few run-throughs before the big event.
“It’s going to be an interesting night,” he said. “You’ve got all the top NBA players, top actors, top actresses, so everybody is intrigued by which athlete is going to win which award.”
He added, “There’s going to be a lot of jokes, a lot of insults, a lot of dancing, and just a lot of fun.”
And while the 7-foot-1 athlete says he doesn’t know any of the nominees personally, Shaq told us, “I know who they are, I know what they’ve done throughout their career,” and that there is “a lot of mutual respect.”
The baller also took a moment to weigh in on tonight’s NBA draft, stating that Zion Williamson, who is expected to go No. 1 to the Pelicans, will “bring a lot of excitement to New Orleans.”
He added, “They’ve got a nice young court and hopefully they can all come together and get a couple wins … they should definitely make a lot of noise.”
And on Anthony Davis’ trade to the Lakers, Shaq said, “I definitely think they will be a force to be reckoned with.”
The 2019 NBA Awards presented by KIA airs live on Monday, June 24, on TNT at 9 p.m. ET.