Happy Birthday, Shaq! Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal br turns 48 years old today. Here are five fun facts about the athlete turned sports analyst. 1. He was already br over six feet tall br when he was just br 10 years old. 2. Shaq was named br Player of the Week br during his debut br week in the NBA. 3. His debut album, 'Shaq Diesel,' went platinum. 4. Shaq has a doctorate br in education. 5. After destroying the backboard br multiple times, the NBA made br breaking the basket ring or br backboard a technical foul.