“You guys are athletes” – Shaquille O’Neal agrees that professional esports players should be addressed as real athletes <\/p>\n
There exist a stigma on professional esports gamers not being considered “real” athletes. Over the years, the sport was perceived largely as a leisure activity and not an actual sporting event. <\/p>\n
The misconception had arisen from video gaming being considered to not be an athletic experience. A career in gaming was interpreted as non-existent and I daresay a taboo in some households, which holds till this day.<\/p>\n
In a recent conversation with esports and gaming content creator Jack Lucky, NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal who was a guest on the Full Gaming motorhome interviews shared his thoughts about esports. The 4-time NBA champion was asked if he considers pro esports players as athletes. O’Neal responded in the affirmative as he went on to tell a story about his experiences with other forms of athletes. <\/p>\n
He commended esports players, stating that he was proud of them. He described athleticism as 15% physical and 85% mental, using his swimming contest against Michael Phelps to drive his point. <\/p>\n
“I do! I wanna commend you guys and I’m proud of you guys,” O’Neal said. “An athlete means different things, an athlete means here (mentality). Like I did a show it’s called Shaq Versus, when I went on a race with Darl Earnhardt, that was the hardest shit I’ve done in my life. I’m sitting, I’m sitting in the car. When we were out there bro my body was so sore. I was like gaddamn! When I went to swim against Michael Phelps, 15% of the game is physical, everything else is mental.”<\/p>\n
\nI asked Shaq if esports players are athletes<\/p>\n
His answer was frikin beautiful pic.twitter.com\/R5O0176nII<\/a><\/p>\n
— Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) May 25, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n