'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal is set to become a playable character in Fortnite on Friday. The collab, which will see two versions of O'Neal added into the game, is set to release on Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. EDT. Of course, like other "skins" within the game, fans will need to spend V-Bucks, Fortnite's digital currency, in order to unlock the NBA legend.
In a minute-long video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday, Fortnite gave fans their first look at DJ Diesel. The video begins with O'Neal DJ-ing for fans, before then jumping out into the crowd for a stage dive.
Instead of fans catching him, however, O'Neal then falls through the concrete floor, tumbling through a building until he finally reaches the ground. When he gets up, a lightning bolt shocks him, turning him into an in-game Fortnite character.
From the looks of things, Shaquille O'Neal's character model will have a DJ version as well as a more lowkey version where the four-time NBA champ can be seen wearing a tank top.
The NBA community was quick to react to the announcement.
"fortnite... the only universe where shaq can crowd surf" - One fan wrote.
"Cold trailer ngl" - Another fan added.
Others also weighed in on the collab:
"This has got to be the funniest reveal trailer for any character or icon in the game it's so goofy just like Shaq himself welcome to fortnite Shaq" - A fan commented.
"most RANDOM BUT W COLLAB" - Another fan added.
Fans brawl outside of Shaquille O'Neal's restaurant in Michigan late last week
Ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season, which will be the last season that Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny "The Jet" Smith, Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson handle broadcasting duties for NBA games on TNT, the Hall of Famer opened a new Big Chicken restaurant in Michigan.
The chain, which was founded in 2018, has locations all throughout the US, including California and Massachusetts, where O'Neal played for the Lakers and the Celtics.
This week, the four-time NBA champ was planning to surprise workers for a visit at the Big Chicken location in Hartland, Michigan, however, as it turned out, O'Neal's schedule leaked.
As a result, fans flocked to the store hoping to meet O'Neal, with an estimated 250 to 300 people reportedly arriving. O'Neal's team contacted police to make sure things didn't get out of hand; however, some fans began to brawl, leading to arrests.
Despite that, O'Neal did spend time meeting fans, taking pictures, and signing autographs even though the visit wasn't supposed to be a public appearance. One of the restaurant workers was quoted by MLive.com as saying:
“It was kind of last minute. We found out last week that his schedule made it to where he could come out to the area. It was just an opportunity for him to come and see the store and meet the team members essentially. It was definitely a fun environment.”
With the NBA preseason set to begin this week, Shaquille O'Neal and the "Inside the NBA" crew are preparing for their final season with the league before the new media rights deal kicks in.
