AP Spotlight Shaq has been refurbishing basketball courts for 30 years, knows first hand how they can help kids DOUG FEINBERG Associated Press Jul 29, 2025 Jul 29, 2025 Updated Jan 31, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Shaquille O'Neal knows exactly how much refurbishing a basketball court can mean to a community and the kids who play on it.kAmw6 =62C?65 7:CDE\92?5 7C@> 9:D 7@C>6C q@DE@? r6=E:4D E62>>2E6 |2CBF:D s2?:6=D] w6 H2D 2 E66?286C E9C66 564256D 28@ H96? ~V}62= H2D A=2J:?8 H:E9 E96 ~C=2?5@ |28:4 2?5 C63F:=E 2 4@FCE :? E96 :??6C 4:EJ 2C62 H96C6 s2?:6=D H2D 8C@H:?8 FA]k^AmkAmQxE H2D 3:8] w6 H2D D@>63@5J 8C@H:?8 FA E92E x =@@<65 FA E@[ 96 H2D E96 E2==6DE A6CD@? x 925 6G6C D66?[Q s2?:6=D E@=5 %96 p!] Qw6 H2D A=2J:?8 H:E9 >J 9@>6 E62> E96 ~C=2?5@ |28:4 2?5 8:G:?8 324< E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 D9@H:?8 9:D 2AAC64:2E:@?] u@C <:5D =:<6 >6 E@ 92G6 2 4@FCE :? E96 :??6C 4:EJ H2D 9F86]Qk^Am People are also reading… Man "involved in a shooting" Friday evening found, McDowell sheriff's office says Marion man charged after 200 grams of cocaine found in search of home near school Amtrak’s western North Carolina expansion: Bringing passenger rail back to Asheville and beyond Compassion Care Services in Marion celebrates opening; provides services for adults with disabilities Owner of Old Fort's Stuckey’s, Dairy Queen hopes to reopen as soon as possible after fire McDowell County leaders hear updates, concerns about 2027 property value reappraisal Marion dam gets $2.7 million for repairs; dam behind condemned Westwood Chateau apartments Author of book on lost NC towns coming to downtown Marion for Women’s History Month Marion man arrested, charged in Friday shooting in McDowell County that injured one McDowell County nonprofit seeking grant to help incarcerated parents and their children US housing secretary, congressman visit Marion to talk about Clinchfield apartment project Old Fort’s B Side Bakery & Books offers fresh made breads, books and more James Haney, historian and 'Southern gentleman,' remembered for devotion to McDowell County history Mace wins sheriff’s office in Republican primary; unopposed in general election Marion hospital accepting applications for Kesha Young Scholarship kAm*62CD =2E6C H96? E96J H6C6 E62>>2E6D :? q@DE@?[ s2?:6=D C6>:?565 E96 w2== @7 u2>6C E92E 96 925 366? 2E E92E 4@FCE 565:42E:@? 2?5 9@H :E 96=A65 492?86 9:D =:76] p7E6C 2 `_\J62C 42C66C :? E96 }qp[ s2?:6=D 92D 366? H@C<:?8 2D 2 4@249 2E 9:D 2=>2 >2E6C pF3FC? D:?46 a_`g]k^AmkAm~V}62= C642==65 s2?:6=D E6==:?8 9:> E96 DE@CJ]k^AmkAmQw6 D2:5[ J@F 5@?VE C6>6>36C >6nQ ~V}62= D2:5 H9:=6 :? #@4<H6==[ %6I2D[ E@ C67FC3:D9 2?@E96C 4@FCE ?62C 9:D ?6H 9@>6] Qx D2:5 ?@[ 2?5 96 D2:5 H6== x H2D @?6 @7 E96 <:5D E92E 8C6H FA :? ~C=2?5@ 2?5 J@F 7:I65 FA 2 4@FCE] q642FD6 J@F 7:I65 :E FA[ xV> 96C6]Qk^Am kAm#67FC3:D9:?8 4@FCED :D 4@>>@?A=246 2C@F?5 E96 }qp 2?5 (}qp] %96 x?5:2?2 u6G6C F?G6:=65 2 ?6H {6824J r@FCE 2E 2 =@42= A2C< :? x?5:2?2A@=:D 5FC:?8 p==\$E2C H66<6?5 2?5 E96 =628F6 92D 2? :?:E:2E:G6 E9:D J62C E@ AFE 5@H? @C2?86 =:?6D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ E@ :?DA:C6 J@F?8 A=2J6CD H:E9 2 (}qp b\A@:?E 2C4 @? @FE5@@C 4@FCED]k^Am kAm%96 C6?@G2E65 4@FCE 2E v=@C:2 (:==:2>D A2C< :D ?@H A2CE @7 2 4@==64E:@? @7 r@>632B r@FCED[ 2 ;@:?E G6?EFC6 3J x4J w@E 2?5 E96 $92BF:==6 ~V}62= u@F?52E:@? E@ 3F:=5 H6==\6BF:AA65 2?5 D276 4@FCED 7@C <:5D 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ]k^AmkAmQ%96J 7@F?5 E9:D 4@FCE E92E 92D?VE 366? C67FC3:D965 :? 2 H9:=6 2?5 E92EVD 9:DE@C:42= H:E9 E96 4:EJ[Q ~V}62= D2:5]k^Am kAm#6?@G2E:?8 @?6 :? #@4<H2== H2D 24EF2==J E96 :562 @7 s2==2D (:?8D DE2C pC:<6 ~8F?3@H2=6] $96VD A=2J65 96C 6?E:C6 42C66C :? s2==2D 2?5 H2?E65 E@ 5@ D@>6E9:?8 7@C E96 4@>>F?:EJ]k^AmkAmQ%9:D :D =:<6 >J D64@?5 9@>6] xVG6 366? 96C6 >J H9@=6 42C66C[ D@ E9:D :?:E:2E:G6 H:E9 x4J w@E 2?5 $92B H2D 2 ?@\3C2:?6C[Q D96 D2:5] QyFDE E@ 8:G6 324< E@ E96 J@FE9 E92E A@FCD :?E@ FD 2?5 >J E62>>2E6D 6G6CJ ?:89E :D DA64:2=]Qk^Am kAmxEVD DA64:2= E@ ~V}62= 2=D@ 2D 96 A=2?D E@ DA6?5 2 =@E @7 9:D E:>6 :? E96 %6I2D 4:EJ]k^Am kAmQxV== 86E @? >J =:EE=6 D4@@E6C @C >@E@C4J4=6 2?5 ;FDE C:56 3J 2?5 D66 H92EVD 8@:?8 @? H:E9 E96 <:5D[Q 96 D2:5] Qx H@C< :? pE=2?E2[ 3FE :EVD @?=J 2? 9@FC 7=:89E 2?5 xV> DFC6 2E D@>6 A@:?E E9:D H:== 36 >J A6C>2?6?E 9@>6]Qk^AmkAm~V}62=[ H9@ :D E96 AC6D:56?E @7 #663@< q2D<6E32==[ 2=D@ 5@?2E65 32D<6E32== D9@6D E@ 2== E96 >6>36CD @7 E96 q@JD U2>Aj v:C=D r=F3 <:5D H9@ H6C6 2E E96 6G6?E]k^Am Nba Duke's Cooper Flagg goes No. 1 in NBA draft to Dallas Mavericks ASSOCIATED PRESS Nba Tyrese Haliburton’s injury, and the same for so many others, has easy explanation Mac Engel Fort Worth Star-Telegram Basketball How NIL money is reshaping the NBA draft: Fewer early entrants, more college stars staying put AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Thunder headlining NBA's opening night, Christmas schedule for the 2025-26 season The Oklahoma City Thunder felt slighted last season when they were left off the NBA's Christmas schedule. That won't be an issue this year. Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Committee gets bubble teams right with no major March Madness snubs Geno Smith gives Jets puncher's chance at competitiveness | Back Page Banter Geno Smith gives Jets puncher's chance at competitiveness | Back Page Banter Breaking down EVERY NFL Free Agent signing & trade Breaking down EVERY NFL Free Agent signing & trade UConn, St. John's Lead Big East Tournament Winner Odds UConn, St. John's Lead Big East Tournament Winner Odds
Nba Tyrese Haliburton’s injury, and the same for so many others, has easy explanation Mac Engel Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Basketball How NIL money is reshaping the NBA draft: Fewer early entrants, more college stars staying put AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer
Thunder headlining NBA's opening night, Christmas schedule for the 2025-26 season The Oklahoma City Thunder felt slighted last season when they were left off the NBA's Christmas schedule. That won't be an issue this year.
