Is Former NBA legend Shaquille O' Neal named honorary FBI Special Agent

FBI Director Kash Patel announced on X that Shaquille O'Neal was named an honorary agent after graduating from the FBI National Academy. The National Academy is a rigorous professional development program run by the FBI, primarily for law enforcement leaders from agencies across the country and around the world. Graduating from it is a real achievement, not just a photo opportunity.

Patel wrote, "This session is historic — FBI was honored to be joined by one of the best supporters of law enforcement in the country — Shaq — who graduated with this session and became an honorary FBI Special Agent."

Photos posted to Patel's X page show the 7-foot-1 Hall-of-Famer standing and sitting next to other FBI officials on stage during the ceremony.

This is not a one-off publicity moment for Shaq. According to The Athletic, he has affiliated himself with law enforcement in at least four states, having been sworn in as a reserve officer or deputy with police departments in Florida, Arizona, Georgia and California. Since retiring from basketball, he has worked to bridge the gap between community and law enforcement, spending five years with the Henry County Community Relations department, where he was recently promoted to Chief of Community Relations.

O'Neal played 19 NBA seasons, won four championships, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He built a second act most people would envy on its own terms, and now he has added a federal badge to it. That is what happens when you stop treating one chapter as the whole story.