Shaq Breaks His Silence On The Staples Center Name Change

BYAlexander Cole4.1K Views
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Shaq
Shaq doesn't believe the current Lakers deserve the Staples Center name.

Shaq got to spend a lot of time at the Staples Center during his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers. In that building, Shaq was able to win three titles with the likes of Kobe Bryant, and in the eyes of many, the Staples Center will always be remembered for that Lakers three-peat team. Now, however, the name is about to go by the wayside as Crypto.com purchased the naming rights for a whopping $700 million. The name will officially change on Christmas Day, although fans aren't interested in calling the building anything other than Staples.

On a recent episode of "The Big Podcast With Shaq," the NBA legend spoke about the new name change and how he doesn't actually care that much. In fact, Shaq believes the current Lakers are not living up to the legacy of the building, and that they don't deserve to be associated with the Staples Center name.

Shaq Breaks His Silence On The Staples Center Name Change
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"I'm glad they taking the name of the Staples Center down," Shaq said. "That was our building. Congratulations to the owners on getting a new deal. But, hey, Staples Center belongs to Shaq and Kobe. Forever." Shaq's comments may come across as harsh, although considering the Lakers' underwhelming start to the season, it is hard to argue with him.

As for the Staples Center, the signage around the arena is already coming down, which is a sign that the new era is upon us. For many Lakers fans, it's going to be a sad day when they have to start calling the place by the name of a cryptocurrency exchange. 

[Via]


About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current editor-in-chief of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. It was here where he began to hone his craft, putting his journalism degree from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, to good use. Since that time, he has documented some of the biggest stories in the hip-hop world. From the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef to the disturbing allegations against Diddy, Alex has helped HotNewHipHop navigate large-scale stories as they happen. In 2021, he went to the Bahamas for the Big 3's Championship Game. It was here where he got to interview legendary figures like Ice Cube, Clyde Drexler, and Stephen Jackson. He has also interviewed other superstar athletes such as Antonio Brown, Damian Lillard, and Paul Pierce. This is in addition to conversations with social media provocateurs like Jake Paul, and younger respected artists like Kaycyy, Lil Tecca, and Jeleel!
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