Shaquille O’Neal Explains How 'Blue Chips' Led to Penny Hardaway Partnership

Shaquille O’Neal had no intentions of venturing into acting when he was initially approached to star in the basketball film Blue Chips. His stance shifted quickly once he found out what the role paid, securing a $3 million check to appear in the movie.

That Hollywood detour ended up altering the trajectory of the Orlando Magic. As reported by TalkBasket, O’Neal credits his time on the movie set with playing a vital role in bringing Penny Hardaway to Orlando, unexpectedly setting the stage for one of the most electrifying tandems in basketball.