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… McDowell County native started mowing lawns at 15. 5 years later, he has a business, employees McDowell County man charged with sexual assault of employee One person critically injured in Sunday crash involving bicycle in McDowell County 12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer Highway patrol: Juvenile killed in McDowell County wreck while driving electric bike Art gallery in Old Fort champions western North Carolina art See events that will close Marion downtown streets this year, including Friday night concerts Marion sixth graders say city needs a dog park; family nonprofit aiming to create toddler park Investigation continues into fatal wreck that killed juvenile on Sunday McDowell legal leaders: Justice denied is a public shame Sheriff's office: Marion man charged with breaking and entering For McDowell High alum Michael Smith, education is a lifelong journey Actor in "The Pitt' is from North Carolina, raised by ER nurse mom, paramedic dad McDowell Endowment giving $56,950 in grants to local nonprofits 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 Speculating on the Top NFL Draft Picks and Trade Options Top MLB Teams Ranked for 2026 Season Top MLB Teams Ranked for 2026 Season Aaron Boone Explains How The Yankees Fixed Their Baserunning | 1342 Aaron Boone Explains How The Yankees Fixed Their Baserunning | 1342 Watch Michael Malone address media for the first time since his hiring as UNC's next men's basketball coach Watch Michael Malone address media for the first time since his hiring as UNC's next men's basketball coach
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.
Watch Michael Malone address media for the first time since his hiring as UNC's next men's basketball coach
Watch Michael Malone address media for the first time since his hiring as UNC's next men's basketball coach
