A lighthearted meeting between former NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and Russian model Ekaterina Lisina has captured attention online after Lisina shared a playful video of the encounter on TikTok.
Lisina, who stands at 6-foot-9 and is widely recognized as the world’s tallest model, posted the video on March 5 showing her meeting the 7-foot-1 retired basketball icon. The clip shows the two posing together while clearly amused by their towering heights.
“This is crazy,” Lisina said in the video as the pair stood side by side for photos, with O’Neal wrapping his arms around her waist. The model also admitted she felt nervous during the moment. “I’m literally, like, sweating,” she said.
In the clip, O’Neal leaned in and planted a kiss on Lisina’s cheek. He continued kissing her cheek as she squealed and laughed before the two paused to pose for another photo. The short video ended with Lisina hugging O’Neal and thanking him for stopping by.
The interaction quickly drew attention in the comments section, where viewers reacted to the pair’s similar heights. One commenter told Lisina she makes the former Los Angeles Lakers star “look like a normal guy,” while others joked about their height compatibility. “That’s a perfect couple,” one user wrote.
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Another commenter added, “They look like they are made for each other, not going to lie,” while some viewers questioned whether O’Neal kissing Lisina’s cheek was necessary.
Shaquille O’Neal Previously Addressed Social Media ‘Clickbait’ Rumors
The viral moment arrives months after Shaquille O’Neal publicly discussed how social media speculation can distort casual interactions.
In December 2025, the basketball Hall of Famer criticized a website that shared a photo of him standing with a friend’s wife and implied the two were romantically involved. The post circulated shortly after online rumors suggested he was dating a 21-year-old OnlyFans model.
Speaking to PEOPLE magazine at the time, O’Neal said he focuses on his own perspective despite the speculation.
He said, “My favorite thing is always saying, ‘image is reality. Nothing is going to stop me from taking pictures with friends or fans, but when the false narrative comes out, and you get another guy taking the picture and putting it on his page…it’s all clickbait.”
O’Neal also acknowledged why such posts spread widely online. He said “everybody wants their page to be famous,” but concluded, “I’m 53, so I’m done with all that.”
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The retired center remains a prominent sports media figure and analyst on the television program Inside the NBA while continuing to appear at public events and fan meetups.
