LSU basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal’s larger-than-life personality often blurs the line between a joke and the truth, which appears to be the case of the former NBA star’s comments Monday about being “paid very well” to play for the Tigers,  according to the Advocate. 
During the Los Angeles Lakers’ annual All-Access event held in the Staples Center, Lakers broadcaster Bill McDonald asked O’Neal about his playing years at LSU.
“Yes, they paid me very well,” Shaq answered, according to NOLA.com. “Hey, the statute of limitations is up.”
O’Neal said during a phone interview with the Advocate on Tuesday his comment was a joke meant to liven up the event and the 525 people in attendance laughed in response.
“You guys know I’m the life of the party, so I had to pick it up,” O’Neal said. “So every question they asked me, I had to give them a funny response.”
O’Neal, who played for LSU from 1989-1992, was the first Tiger to become a No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft before winning four NBA Championships during his 20-year NBA-career.