NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has added another title to his résumé after being named an honorary FBI special agent during a graduation ceremony at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
FBI Director Kash Patel presented O’Neal with the honorary distinction during the graduation of Session 299, which included 265 law enforcement professionals from agencies across the U.S.
Patel announced the honor on social media, calling O’Neal “one of the best supporters of law enforcement in the country.”
He said O’Neal “graduated with this session and became an honorary FBI Special Agent.”
ABC News also highlighted the ceremony, sharing images of the four-time NBA champion receiving the recognition alongside members of the graduating class.
The title is honorary and does not mean O’Neal has become a sworn FBI special agent or has received the investigative authority, responsibilities or credentials that come with the position.
The FBI National Academy is also separate from the agency’s training program for newly hired special agents.
The National Academy is a 10-week professional development program primarily designed for experienced law enforcement leaders. Its curriculum focuses on leadership, academics, physical fitness and cooperation among local, state, federal and international law enforcement agencies.
The program has operated since 1935 and has trained tens of thousands of public safety professionals.
O’Neal’s involvement with law enforcement dates back decades.
During his NBA career and following his retirement, the Hall of Fame center pursued police training and served in reserve law enforcement roles.
His interest in policing has continued alongside his work as a broadcaster, businessman and television personality.
O’Neal has previously spoken about wanting to understand police work beyond simply holding an honorary title or appearing alongside law enforcement officials.
That history helped explain why Patel singled him out during the ceremony.
O’Neal spent 19 seasons in the NBA and won four championships, including three consecutive titles with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000 through 2002 and another with the Miami Heat in 2006.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Since retiring from basketball, O’Neal has remained one of the most recognizable former athletes in the country through his work on television, endorsements and multiple business ventures.
The honorary FBI designation now adds another unusual distinction to a career that has stretched well beyond professional basketball.
While the title does not make O’Neal a federal agent in the traditional sense, the recognition reflects his longtime public support for law enforcement and his history of involvement with police agencies, per Yahoo News.
For O’Neal, the ceremony marked another chapter in a post-playing career that has included media, education, business and public service.
