Lakers Legend Shaquille O’Neal Gives Oilers Winger His Flowers

Sports rivalries usually stay within one league, but sometimes respect between athletes crosses into completely different sports. That was the case recently when an Edmonton Oilers winger received praise from NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, highlighting an unexpected cross-sport friendship.

NBA Icon Shaquille O’Neal Tips His Cap to Oilers Winger

The Oilers winger in question is Zach Hyman. He and O’Neal first connected during the 2024 NHL playoffs when the NHL on TNT crew jokingly started calling the Oilers winger “Shaq Hyman.” The nickname was inspired by Hyman’s gritty style of play around the crease, which reminded analysts of O’Neal’s dominance scoring in the paint during his NBA career.

The connection quickly turned into a friendly exchange between the two athletes.

After hearing about the nickname, Hyman sent O’Neal a signed Oilers jersey along with a custom-sized hockey stick. O’Neal later showed the gifts on the popular basketball show “Inside the NBA”. In return, the Hall of Fame center sent Hyman a signed, game-worn Lakers jersey.

The nickname itself actually traces back even further. When Hyman was playing for the Toronto Marlies, his former coach Sheldon Keefe once compared Hyman’s crease-scoring ability to O’Neal’s physical dominance in the paint.

When asked what made him such a fan of Hyman, O’Neal joked, “The name, of course. But, you know, all, all hockey athletes are not great athletes, they’re tremendous.”

“Because, you know, like a guy that sits on the couch and believes he can do everything. I could probably skate forward. Not good, but I can probably go forward, but those guys forward, backwards, side to side, stop, put ice on the things, spin around, fight, like it’s just, it’s just, you know, incredible to watch, he added.

O’Neal also admitted that Hyman’s ability to fight for position in front of the net, similar to battling in the paint in basketball, is something he particularly admires.

A Cross-Sport Friendship

The relationship between O’Neal and Hyman has turned into one of the more wholesome cross-sport connections in recent years.

Both athletes have shown mutual respect. O’Neal publicly thanked Hyman for the gifts and referred to him as a “brother,” while Hyman has said the attention from the NBA legend feels surreal, especially since his grandfather was a longtime Lakers fan.

O’Neal was recently in Edmonton on March 11, 2026, for a furniture partnership with The Brick. Unfortunately, he and Hyman didn’t get the chance to meet in person during the visit because the Oilers were away on a road trip.

Still, the connection between the two remains strong. During a recent CityNews interview, O’Neal even joked about not wanting to share Hyman with fellow NBA personality Charles Barkley, playfully saying that “Jack Hyman” belongs to him.

What started as a lighthearted nickname has grown into a fun and genuine show of respect between two stars from completely different sports.