Shaq Admits He Had A Problem With This Drug During His Playing Days

During a recent podcast appearance, legendary center Shaquille O'Neal admitted to abusing prescription pain killers.  

There have been few NBA players who have made a bigger impact on the game than Shaquille O'Neal. He came into the game from Louisiana State University and was near immediately a phenomenon. 

But O'Neal had to spend nearly two decades banigng on the inside with the best of the NBA. And that took an undue toll on the miraculous center. And to stay healthy, O'Neal says that he had to abuse prescription painkillers. The center said on Dax Shepherd's Armchair Expert podcast: 

 "But I didn’t feel high. I don’t think I was suffering mentally. I think if I had a knack, I would take it [because] I don’t want to feel that knack because we need this game. It’s not that I was hiding it. The trainers knew. I mean, I’m not telling my wife or my kids or my boys."

O'Neal certainly didn't suffer for accolades dyring his playing career. He was a dominant force, appearing in 15 All-Star games and being named to 14 All-NBA teams.  Despite that success, there are still rails for O'Naal to climb to be considered to be one of the all-time greatest. 

The bar for the all-time greatest centers starts with Bill Russell and moves to Wilt Chamberlain and then on to Moses Malone. It is fair to consider him to be past Wilt Chamberkain and Moses Malone, but there is certainly an argument as to whether he is past