Deandre Ayton Has a Personal Nickname for Lakers Legend Shaquille O’Neal originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Deandre Ayton’s fresh start with the Lakers is already turning heads. Ayton is stepping in to help fill the massive void left by Anthony Davis, and he’s clearly not wasting any time settling into life in purple and gold.
From getting to know his new teammates to soaking up the team’s rich history, Ayton’s diving right in. Of course, it’s impossible to be around the Lakers without feeling the towering presence of legends like Shaquille O’Neal. While plenty of people have nicknames for Shaq, Ayton’s got one of his own as well, and it’s got fans pretty curious about what it says about their connection.
Recently, ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin took to social media to reveal what Ayton had to say about joining a lineage of great centers for the Lakers. In his X post, McMenamin said, “Deandre Ayton, when asked about the lineage of great centers in Los Angeles, said he has had a longstanding relationship with Shaquille O’Neal, having played with his son, Shareef, in the past. He calls Shaq, “Big Unc.”
Deandre Ayton, when asked about the lineage of great centers in Los Angeles, said he has had a longstanding relationship with Shaquille O’Neal, having played with his son, Shareef, in the past. He calls Shaq, “Big Unc”
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 8, 2025
The Bahamas-born center found himself heading to L.A. after agreeing to a two-year, $16.6 million deal with the Lakers. The contract included a player option for the second year. Thanks to Portland’s buyout, Ayton ended up earning over $33 million total for the season, $8.1 million from the Lakers and $25.6 million from the Blazers.
The move gave the Lakers a much-needed upgrade at center to play alongside LeBron, Luka Doncic, Rui Hachimura, and Austin Reaves. For Ayton, who turns 27 this summer, it marks yet another fresh start after stints in Phoenix and Portland.
Related: Deandre Ayton Shares 6-Word Reaction to Teaming Up With Luka Doncic
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.