Overview
- He admitted on the Armchair Expert podcast that he routinely self-medicated with opioids and NSAIDs during games and often took triple the prescribed dose to keep playing.
- O’Neal described a “heated discussion” after doctors warned him of addiction, though he said he never felt high from the medications.
- He reported current limitations in kidney function attributed to decades of painkiller and anti-inflammatory use.
- O’Neal repeated a long-questioned story about a 1996 Olympic drug test tied to a poppy-seed muffin, highlighting inconsistencies in his recollection.
- He concealed his painkiller regimen from his wife and children while team trainers monitored his treatment.