Shaquille O’Neal’s time with the Miami Heat was defined by dominance on the court-but off the court, things were just as eventful. Former teammate Antoine Walker recently shared stories of how the Heat’s 2006 championship squad built its chemistry through a nightlife-heavy bonding routine, shedding new light on the team’s dynamic.
Appearing on “Run It”, Walker described how the Heat rarely missed an opportunity to enjoy themselves on the road.
“We probably missed… Utah, Indiana, maybe,” Walker revealed. “There were only two cities that we didn’t have something planned.”
Despite Pat Riley’s strict reputation as a no-nonsense coach, enforcing discipline and conditioning as core tenets of Miami’s culture, it turns out Shaq had his own way of doing things. While other players may have felt the consequences of late nights, O’Neal was seemingly untouchable.
“You had to know that you were gonna have a great time with him [Shaq], but he wasn’t drinking,” Walker said. “So when you get up in the morning, you gotta deal with shootaround. Pat ain’t going at Shaq, because Shaq don’t smell like alcohol. So Shaq is fine.”
Walker said Shaq’s parties helped the team
Miami Heat won the 2006 NBA Championship because of partying
“Shaq had parties in every city but Utah and Indiana. You guys know why…
Shaq’s a great time, but he’s not drinking…Pat Riley didn’t go at Shaq because he didn’t smell like alcohol.” – @WalkerAntoine8pic.twitter.com/lpmDaP5Pyj
Miami Heat won the 2006 NBA Championship because of partying 👀🥳🏆
"Shaq had parties in every city but Utah and Indiana. You guys know why…
Shaq's a great time, but he's not drinking…Pat Riley didn't go at Shaq because he didn't smell like alcohol." – @WalkerAntoine8 pic.twitter.com/lpmDaP5Pyj
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) March 14, 2025
Walker admitted that while it wasn’t necessarily the traditional way to build team camaraderie, the method worked for them.
“To be honest with you, it brought the team [together]. Camaraderie was so good. And you hate to say that it’s not, like, the best way to do it, but it was a fun way to do it,” he said.
The stories add an intriguing wrinkle to the Heat’s championship culture and how different personalities meshed under Riley’s leadership. While the 2006 title cemented Shaq’s place in Miami history, questions remain about whether this lifestyle contributed to Miami falling short in the 2005 season.
