Exclusive | Shaq avoids texting NBA players because theyre aholes

He’s no longer a team player.Shaquille O’Neal has put himself in a timeout from his fellow ballplayers — and doesn’t text any NBA star past or present.“None.

I don’t like athletes or superstars because they’re a–holes,” he told The Post.“I denounced myself from being a celebrity about 10 years ago because those people are weird.

I’m not weird.” Even when Shaq comes to Times Square to visit the tech superstore tm:rw, which he joined as an investor and partner, he keeps it low key.“Whenever I come, it’s me and two guys.No entourage.

There’s nothing but homeboys coming in,” he said.“We come in here, we take care of business … We sign autographs.

We treat people with honor and respect … I want to be a regular guy.”O’Neal, 54, also stays grounded and has never stopped hitting the books, and currently has three degrees — a bachelor’s of arts, an MBA, and a PhD in education.Many people think he didn’t actually earn the Dr.before his name.“The funniest thing I get is, ‘Oh it’s honorary.’ I say, ‘No, it’s not.

I had to go to school and write papers and do all that stuff,” he said.The four-time NBA champ, who has a net worth of $500 million, earned his PhD from Barry University in Miami in 2012 to set an example for his six children and his young fans.“I’m very super successful without that, but I wanted to stress to my children and children around that education is very important,” he said.The Louisiana State University alum — who left college after his junior year for the NBA, but went back to complete his bachelor’s — stressed the value of athletes getting schooled in business.“We talk about the NIL [student-athlete using their name, image or likeness to earn money] what’s going on now.

People always go to the money first, but you have to have the education on how to manage the money,” he said.“So I want my children and those that follow me to say, ‘OK, he’s educated.

Maybe I shoul...