Image Source: Getty Images
[Saba Sports News] Shaquille O’Neal never misses a chance to tease his TNT co-host Charles Barkley, and he credits his former teammate Alonzo Mourning for inspiring one of his favorite jabs.
“I can proudly flash four fingers instead of three for my NBA titles, thanks to him,” O’Neal joked, sitting beside Mourning at the site of their latest project—a new charter school and youth center in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood.
The two NBA legends, who won the 2006 championship together with the Miami Heat, have joined forces to renovate the Overtown Youth Center’s indoor basketball court as part of a $20 million expansion.
The project, supported by the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation and Icy Hot’s Comebaq Courts initiative, will add a charter school to the facility, offering free resources and education for underserved youth.
Mourning, who founded the youth center in 2003, has overseen its growth from 18,000 to 56,000 square feet. The new facility, set to open within six months, will include a school for 300 students (grades K-8), 14 classrooms, and the capacity to host 2,000 people at a time—all at no cost to families, thanks to corporate partners.
“I’ve been blessed in life, and it’s my responsibility to use those blessings to help others,” Mourning said.
O’Neal chimed in with a grin: “I’m stealing that for TNT.”
Mourning was inspired by a similar facility in Portland called Self Enhancement, Inc., which he visited in 2000. O’Neal hopes this Miami center can become a model for building youth programs across the nation.
“Too many people flaunt their wealth on social media. Take care of the kids in your area first,” O’Neal urged.
O’Neal and Mourning reflected on their journey from on-court rivals to close friends. Drafted first and second in 1992, they rarely spoke during their early careers, engaging in fierce battles marked by dunks and elbows.
“We were alpha males,” Mourning said.
Their relationship changed when Mourning returned to the Heat in 2005 after a kidney transplant. O’Neal expressed regret over not befriending him sooner.
“I’m a bully on the court, but not in real life. Zo is the nicest big guy ever—besides me,” O’Neal said.
During the 2006 NBA Finals, Mourning’s critical performance in Game 6 helped O’Neal secure his fourth championship.
“He saved my professional life. Without him, I wouldn’t be here,” O’Neal said.
O’Neal invited Mourning to join him on stage during his 2016 Hall of Fame induction—a testament to their bond. Today, their shared mission is to give back through the Overtown Youth Center project.
Mourning described the initiative as his life’s purpose: “I was given the gift of life through my transplant, and I’m driven to help others get ahead.”
O’Neal echoed the sentiment: “Miami kids, know that Alonzo loves you, I love you, and we’re here for you. This project comes from the heart, and it’s all for you.”
The center is set to open next year, cementing their legacy of compassion and commitment to empowering the next generation.