Shaquille O'Neal explained why esportsmen deserve to be called full-fledged athletes

Legendary basketball player Shaquille O'Neal explained in an interview why esports players deserve to be considered true professional athletes. According to the former Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics player, it's all about how you treat people who can do things that most others can't.

I believe that esportsmen are real athletes. I want to praise you, I'm proud of you guys. Athlete means a lot of different things, it is first of all what is in your head.

I had the show "SHAQ VERSUS". When I went to race with Dale Earnhardt, I have never done anything harder in my life! I was sitting in the car, my body did not obey me. Same thing when I went swimming with Michael Phelps. The physical aspect is 15% of the game, everything else is the mental part.

That's why you guys have such a short "cycle of life" - 3-4 years or 5-6. It's the same in the NBA and NFL. So yes, I consider you athletes. If you say that you are athletes, I believe you, because I cannot do what you do.

It should be noted that in 2016, O'Neill became an investor in the North American eSports organization NRG Esports and since then has repeatedly participated in activities at various tournaments. In particular, he challenged a well-known streamer to a duel in Rocket League, tried to lure Luminosity Gaming players to his club, starred in an ELEAGUE CS:GO commercial and attended the Celebrity Showdown tournament in the Street Fighter V discipline.