Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, a.k.a. DJ Diesel, partnered with Credit One Bank to share credit education, give away a total of $50,000 to SMU students according to event organizers, and spin tunes at Moody Coliseum Sept. 14.
O’Neal and Credit One Bank Chief Marketing Officer Michael Coleman spoke to 500 pre-registered students at SMU’s Moody Coliseum as part of Credit One Bank’s Credit Tip Off Tour in a discussion moderated by sports content creator and host Jenna Bandy.
O’Neal, who owns property and is involved in philanthropy in North Texas, told the students about his own early mistakes with credit cards. He explained that a low credit score temporarily prevented him from buying a house for his mother early in his basketball career.
“I wasn’t paying attention, so make sure you pay attention and make sure you never, ever miss a deadline,” O’Neal told the crowd.
Coleman explained credit scores and that payment history makes up about 35%.
“Mistakes you make will live with you,” Coleman said. “Don’t miss your payments.”
After the discussion, the group took questions from the audience.
One student, Zariyah Perry, a senior studying film at SMU, spoke about taking out a loan of around $20,000 for her senior thesis project. O’Neal offered Perry $10,000 if she could make a basketball shot, which she did, to cheers from the crowd. Shortly thereafter, a student made a shot for another $10,000.
All told, O’Neal and Credit One Bank gave away a total of $50,000 by the end of the evening, according to a press release.
The evening concluded with a DJ Diesel set, with versions of classics like Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer,” “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers, and Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone.”
Credit One Bank’s Credit Tip Off Tour will continue at Georgia State University Oct. 23, Fred’s Bar in Baton Rouge Nov. 6, and Florida Atlantic University on Nov. 9.
(Editor’s Note: This article was updated after Credit One Bank provided an update from their previously reported total amount that was given away from $45,000 to $50,000.)
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