Now that’s a gift!
NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal recently paid for a stranger’s engagement ring, Today.com reports.
He performed this random act of kindness while shopping for jewelry this week.
“I was in Zales, looking for some hoop earrings. I seen the guy coming in. He was just so shy. He was saying, ‘Hey, how much do I owe to pay off my ring?’ I was like, ‘My man, how much is the ring?’,” Shaq recalled on “NBA on TNT.”
That’s when Shaq casually handed the store clerk his credit card, paying off an engagement ring the young man had on layaway. If not for the whole thing being caught on video, Shaq said he would’ve never brought it up. He admitted that the guy didn’t want to accept the gift at first, but the former NBA star said he insisted.
“I’m just trying to make people smile… That’s all.”@SHAQ helped a young man out at a local jewelry store by paying for his engagement ring. pic.twitter.com/eK8n0YHGb7
advertisement— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 7, 2021
“I don’t do it for that. The guy just came in; he was a young kid, hardworking guy…[I told him] don’t worry about it. I do it all the time. I’m just trying to make people smile. That’s all,” said Shaq.
After paying the young man’s tab, Shaq encouraged him to take care of his girlfriend, going on about the rest of the day. While it may have been a huge moment for the customer, this type of kindness isn’t abnormal for the legend.
“This is something I do every day…The other day, me and my mom went furniture shopping, and this lady, she had an autistic daughter. She was also looking to pay for some furniture. I just took care of her. I’m into making people happy. Whenever I leave the house, I just try to do a good deed,” he said.
TODAY host Craig Melvin vouched for Shaq’s good deeds when discussing the kind gesture with his co-host Hoda Kotb, saying, “I can attest to it. Shaquille O’Neal has done other large things like that for people – never talks about it.”
We need more people like you, Shaq. May your good deeds return to you tenfold.
Photo Courtesy of AL.com