How Dale Brown discovered Shaquille O’Neal at 13 and built a lifelong friendship
A chance meeting at a military base in Germany began a decadeslong relationship between the LSU basketball coach and future NBA superstar.
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Long before Shaquille O’Neal became one of the biggest stars in NBA history, he was a 13-year-old boy living on a military base in Germany when a chance encounter with LSU basketball coach Dale Brown changed his life.
More than four decades later, their relationship had grown into a friendship that extended far beyond basketball.
Brown died Friday, Oct. 23, at age 90, leaving behind a legacy that includes helping develop one of the most recognizable players in sports history.
A chance meeting in Germany
Brown first met O’Neal in 1984 while conducting a basketball clinic at a military base in West Germany.
O’Neal, then 13 and already standing 6 feet, 9 inches tall, approached Brown looking for advice on improving his basketball skills.
Brown initially mistook the teenager for a soldier and asked how long he had been in the Army.
When O’Neal explained he was only 13, Brown recognized his potential.
In a 2015 interview with Esquire, O’Neal recalled having little confidence in his basketball abilities at the time. He said Brown began sending him letters and basketball exercises after their first meeting.
The two continued corresponding as O’Neal developed into one of the nation’s top high school basketball prospects.
Brown eventually recruited O’Neal to LSU, where he played from 1989 to 1992.
A relationship beyond basketball
O’Neal became a two-time consensus All-American and two-time SEC Player of the Year at LSU before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft.
But their relationship did not end when O’Neal left Baton Rouge.
In a 1999 letter congratulating Brown on his induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, O’Neal credited his former coach with influencing his life.
“You are the only college coach I ever had, and the only one I ever wanted,” O’Neal wrote.
The letter was later published by LSU Athletics.
Brown also remained involved in O’Neal’s life as his professional basketball career took off.
When O’Neal won his first NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000, Brown was there to celebrate.
That same year, O’Neal returned to LSU to complete his college degree, fulfilling a promise he had made to his family and Brown when he left school in 1992.
In a 2015 interview with Esquire, O’Neal described Brown as much more than a basketball coach.
“Away from the court he’s a father figure, leader, and a motivator,” O’Neal said.
Dale Brown received one final major honor just days before his death
Just two days before Dale Brown's death at 90, LSU announced the legendary basketball coach would receive the 2027 John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award.
LSU basketball legend Dale Brown dies at 90
Legendary LSU basketball coach Dale Brown has died at 90, just days after receiving a major coaching honor. Remember his 25-year career, legacy and impact.
Their friendship became a documentary
In 2015, ESPN released Shaq & Dale, an SEC Storied documentary exploring the relationship between the two men.
Directed by Hannah Storm and narrated by Louisiana native Tim McGraw, the film followed O’Neal as he returned to LSU to visit his former coach.
The documentary explored how their relationship began in Germany and continued through O’Neal’s college career, NBA success and life after basketball.
According to LSU, the two maintained regular contact through letters and emails for decades.
One final tribute
Just days before Brown’s death, O’Neal helped celebrate another major accomplishment for his former coach.
On Oct. 21, LSU announced Brown had been selected as the 2027 recipient of the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award.
O’Neal delivered a special video message congratulating Brown on the recognition and reflecting on the impact his former coach had on his life and career.
Brown had been scheduled to receive the award in April 2027.
Their relationship began with a teenager seeking basketball advice thousands of miles from Baton Rouge and grew into a friendship that lasted for more than 40 years.
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