Shaquille O’Neal is proving once again that his heart is just as big as his legacy. The NBA Hall of Famer recently surprised 18-year-old wrestler Tamara Humphries with a brand-new car after learning she was struggling to get to practice and competitions.
Tamara, known on the mat by her wrestling name “Firefly,” admitted she had put her sport on pause this summer to focus on saving for a car. Without reliable transportation, she often relied on ride shares to get to school and practices, which limited her ability to compete.
That changed when Shaq came across videos of Tamara wrestling. Moved by her talent and determination, he reached out to her parents directly. “So I called her parents,” Shaq explained in an Instagram video, recalling how he wanted to know what might help remove the barriers holding her back.
For Tamara, it was an ordinary weekday that suddenly turned extraordinary. “He was like, ‘Hey are you interested in any sponsorships or anything like that? Can I get in touch with your parents?’” she told KDKA Radio. Shocked and overjoyed, she said she and her sister “were screaming for like five minutes straight” after hearing from him.
When Shaq asked what she needed most, Tamara told him the truth: a car. Her mother confirmed just how hard she had been working toward that goal. On a FaceTime call, Shaq promised not just to help, but to cover the cost entirely.
Soon after, Tamara drove off in a 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander, grinning from ear to ear. She later expressed her gratitude in an Instagram post, “After struggling to get to practice, not making tournaments due to the distance, Ubers and Lyfts back and forth from college, I was blessed with a Mitsubishi Outlander 2025 from the one and only SHAQUILLE O’NEAL.”
She added, “Thank you God, thank you family, and most importantly thank YOU for believing in me. I couldn’t do anything without the love support you all drown me in. I will not let you down if you continue to trust me. God is good. We made it everyone, and it’s only the beginning.”
Shaq, 53, has a reputation for stepping in to support young people chasing their dreams, whether it’s covering expenses, mentoring athletes, or simply spreading encouragement. For Tamara, the gift is about far more than transportation, it’s a reminder that her hard work is being noticed.
Photo Credit: Tamara Humphries Instagram; Shaq Instagram; Effortless Motors Instagram
