Shaquille O’Neal and Michael Jordan share more than just their love and passion for basketball. Beyond the court, there’s a lesser-known connection between them that might surprise you. Recently, O’Neal made this revelation on his Instagram. He posted a video on his Instagram story featuring prominent figures from sports, entertainment, and beyond who are associated with one of the oldest fraternities, Omega Psi Phi.
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Numerous familiar names were spotted in the clip. Some of the names featured are Rickey Smiley, Steve Harvey, Tom Joyner, Terrence J, Jesse Jackson, George Clinton, and more. Among them both Jordan’s and O’Neal’s names were present.
However, did the two titans of the NBA belong to the same fraternity? The answer is yes. A quick stroll through the records of the fraternity proves that the two were indeed part of the same fraternity. Both their names were added to the list of athlete members. Former basketball player and analyst Vince Carter was also part of the fraternity.
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Here is the clip that O’Neal shared on his IG story, in case you missed it:
In Sam Smith’s book, ‘The Jordan Rules,’ it was mentioned that Jordan was part of the Omega Psi Phi, while he attended the University of North Carolina. O’Neal once mentioned the motivation behind joining the organization.
Shaquille O’Neal’s love for the Omega Psi Phi fraternity
Being one among the oldest fraternities, Omega Psi Phi captured O’Neal’s admiration due to its rich tradition. The profound fellowship and dedicated community service resonated deeply with him. The impactful ethos of Omega Psi Phi motivated O’Neal. He stated that the organization believes in connecting with new people and fostering the realization of dreams. He also mentioned that the organization propelled him toward the achievement of his personal and professional goals.
Speaking of the fraternity, he said, “It’s a brotherhood.” He elaborated, “When I was in college those guys looked out for me. I was a young buck on campus… They just had so much brotherly love. So, then when I learned about it. I said, ‘You know what? I think I can do this… I wanted to be a part of the organization.”
