What happens now that Shaquille O’Neal has been served in the FTX bankruptcy case?

It took a while, but the Former Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers star is finally set to face legal process in connection with his ties to the now disgraced and moreover bankrupt cryptocurrency firm. What happens next, could well have an effect on several other high-profile athletes and celebrities.

Shaquille O’neal served after avoiding FTX plaintiffs’ lawyers

According to reports, Hall of Fame basketballer, Shaquille O’Neal, was finally served a complaint after seemingly “dodging” lawyers who represent FTX investors for months. The complaint itself is understood to be part of a proposed class-action lawsuit which was filed against the now collapsed cryptocurrency company. Incidentally, O’Neal was served while working during TNT’s broadcast of the Eastern Conference finals game between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, and where was he? The Kaseya Center in Miami which was formerly known as the FTX Arena.

Speaking with the media, Adam Moskowitz, a lawyer representing the above-mentioned investors explained the measures which were taken. “The process server filmed the event to ensure there was no ambiguity like Shaq has been arguing in the FTX case,” Moskowitz said, before disclosing that O’Neal had the process server “kicked out” of the arena. “These claims now are very serious and thus it is good that we can start with the merits, instead of the silly service sideshow Mr. O’Neal unfortunately created,” he added.

Why has it taken so long to serve Shaquille O’Neal the complaint?

Now you might be wondering, how is it that someone who is both literally and metaphorically larger than life might be so hard to find. Indeed, O’Neal is a regular presence on TNT during the NBA season, a constant voice on “Inside the NBA” and quite frankly appears in countless television commercials. So, what happened? In our previous report on the situation, we came to learn that O’Neal had in fact been going to great lengths to avoid contact with process servers, who even tried to make contact with him at his ex-wife’s home. On one occasion, O’Neal is said to have driven past them as they attempted to literally throw papers at his SUV. The former Lakers star later claimed that he simply “drove past the strangers lurking outside his home.”

What’s up with FTX, pro athletes and celebrities?

To be clear, O’Neal is not alone in the case. Indeed, the big man stands alongside a number of celebrities and professional athletes, who have been named in the proposed class-action lawsuit filed by FTX investors after the cryptocurrency company filed for bankruptcy late last year. Among them are high-profile individuals such as Tom Brady and his ex-wife Gisele Bündchen, comedian Larry David, tennis star Naomi Osaka and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, all of whom appeared in commercials where they promoted the company. Of course, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was arrested in January of this year and charged with a wide variety of offenses including wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering. Ultimately, O’Neal will now face due process regardless of if he’s done anything wrong, something he was apparently trying to avoid for some time.