Shaq receives an honorary title from the FBI and his first remark is about Charles Barkley

Shaquille O'Neal once again demonstrated that his sense of humor remains intact even in the most solemn settings. The NBA legend received a federal recognition in Quantico, Virginia, on Thursday after FBI Director Kash Patel named him an honorary special agent during the graduation ceremony of class 299 of the FBI National Academy.

O'Neal, a Hall of Famer and one of the great figures in NBA history, shared the stage with 265 law enforcement agents from across the country. However, when it was time to conclude his speech, he decided to use his new distinction to remember one of his most well-known colleagues on television: Charles Barkley.

O'Neal's final words to the attendees were directed at Barkley, his longtime colleague on Inside the NBA. The remark drew laughter from those present.

“If you see Charles Barkley, arrest him,” O'Neal said.

The quip fits well with the relationship they have maintained over the years in front of the cameras. O'Neal and Barkley have worked together since 2011, and their jokes, debates, and constant jabs have become one of the most recognizable elements of Inside the NBA.

This time, Shaq seized a distinction related to law enforcement to transfer his usual television rivalry to the stage of the FBI National Academy.

Shaq, honorary special agent of the FBI

The FBI Director, Kash Patel, was the one who announced the recognition during the ceremony held in Quantico. Subsequently, he also communicated it through social media, describing O'Neal as one of the greatest defenders of law enforcement in the country.

The class 299 of the FBI National Academy also had other notable elements. Among them, it was the first class of the institution to include two special FBI agents.

The distinction granted to O'Neal is, in any case, strictly honorary. The NBA legend did not complete the 10-week academic program that actual graduates of the FBI National Academy must pass.

Therefore, the appointment does not grant O'Neal the authority to investigate nor does it make him a sworn agent. It is an honorary recognition linked to his career and his relationship with law enforcement.

A relationship with law enforcement spanning several decades

Although the title received in Quantico is symbolic, O'Neal's bond with law enforcement dates back several decades. During his time as a player for the Los Angeles Lakers, he went through the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Reserve Academy and later became a reserve officer for the Port of Los Angeles Police.

After being traded to the Miami Heat, he also received training as a reserve officer in Miami Beach. In 2005, he was named an honorary Deputy Marshal of the United States and later served as a spokesperson for the Safe Surfin' foundation.

O'Neal's interest in this field also has a family origin. His father was a sergeant instructor, a circumstance that the NBA legend himself has pointed out as one of the reasons behind his relationship with law enforcement.

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Barkley remains free

While O'Neal celebrates his new recognition, Charles Barkley remains free. Everything indicates that the phrase pronounced by Shaq in Quantico is part of the long tradition of jokes that both have built during their years working together.

Since 2011, the interactions between the two NBA legends have become one of the major attractions of Inside the NBA. Their verbal sparring and constant jokes have transcended the show and are part of the public relationship they have maintained for years.

This time, Shaq had a new opportunity to throw one of his usual jabs, and he didn’t miss it: he received an honorary recognition from the FBI and ended his speech jokingly calling for the arrest of his television partner.

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