Shaquille O’Neal Buys 10 Pairs of Shoes for 13-Year-Old Boy, Who Is 6’2 Tall

At age 13, Zach Keith of Douglasville, Georgia already stands 6 feet 2 inches tall. This should be a dream come true for any teenaged boy, especially for Zach, who is a basketball and football player at Stewart Middle School.

But for his mom Britanny, it comes with some problems. Because of his massive show size 18, Britanny has to spend a lot for her son’s footwear.

She posted a plea for help on Instagram and guess who responded to help her?

No less than the big, big man himself, basketball star Shaquille O’Neal!

“It’s hard finding shoes and cleats in his size let alone being able to afford them at times. He’s almost in a size 19 and I need help. If you can do anything to help I will be so appreciative,” Brittany said in her Instagram post.

Britanny tagged CBS 46 news on her post. The station saw it and in turn, contacted Shaq.

The NBA Hall of Famer happily obliged and arranged for mother and son to visit Friendman’s Shoes, his favorite shoe store in Atlanta – which specializes in big and tall shoe sizes.

Shaq understood Zach’s predicament very well. The star himself has experienced the difficulties of buying shoes for his size 23 feet.

Friendman’s Shoes is owned by Bruce Friendman, who gave Shaq a pair of shoes for free for prom.

“Bruce gave me a pair of shoes when I was 18-years-old for free, so I’ma take care of the kid today because somebody did it for me. I’m doing it for the kid,” he said.

Shaq told Sharon Reed, a CBS 46 reporter, that he bought around 3000 pairs of shoes from the store over the last 30 years.

Britanny and Zach went to the store on a Wednesday. She didn’t tell her son that Shaq will be there to meet them.

“I told him that we were going to go to a shoe store and that we were just going around looking at shoes and seeing if we could afford a pair,” she told CBS 46.

As expected, Zach was stunned when he saw the NBA legend sitting on a shoe bench inside the store.

“I wasn’t expecting that. To meet Shaquille O’Neal, all star player, one of my all star favorites, surprised, shocked,” the delighted Zach said.

Zach got 10 pairs of shoes, all paid for by Shaq.

“That should last him for a long time,” Shaq said.

Of course, Britanny was so thankful for the star’s kindness.

“I’m am so overwhelmed with all types of feelings right now. Thanks to everyone who shared my post. You all helped make this happen and kept pushing me to post… Words can’t express how I’m feeling,” she said.