Insane Teammates Coincidence Inspired by NBA Hall of Famers

Before Shaquille O'Neal came bursting onto the NBA scene in 1993, the name "Shaq" or "Shaquille" was quite the novelty. After his success and worldwide popularity, however, the name become much more commonplace. It's not unusual nowadays to hear of athletes (and others around the world) named Shaq. 

But today, by manifesting another legendary NBA center, Hakeem Olajuwon, we learn about an insane coincidence of new teammates on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL, that takes their 'Shaq-ness' to a whole other level. 

This is insane. We mentioned that new Bucs guard Shaq Mason is Shaquille Olajuwon Mason, named after the two former NBA stars. Well, his new teammate, Bucs pass-rusher Shaq Barrett, was born a year earlier in 1992, and is Shaquil Akeem Barrett, named after the same two players.

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) March 24, 2022

Two Shaqs on the same team is one thing, but a "Shaq Olajuwon" and a "Shaq Akeem", both with first and middle names after the same two NBA legends? It's hard to comprehend the odds of that. 

Shaquille Olajuwon Mason was born in 1993, while his new teammate Shaquil Akeem Barrett came into the world in 1992. Somehow, the basketball (and football) fates have brought them together in 2022. 

The name Shaquille barely cracked the Top 1,000 baby names in America in 1991, but just two years later, in 1993, it had soared to No. 181 on the baby name list. 

Today, on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL at least, combine it with Hakeem Olajuwon, and it's a slam dunk No. 1.