NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, better known as Shaq, arrived in Lithuania on September 29. The former NBA champion, visiting the country for the first time, met with the media in Vilnius and spoke about basketball, Lithuania, business and his new partnership with NordVPN.
Shaquille O’Neal came to Vilnius at the invitation of Nord Security. In mid-September, the NBA star officially became a global ambassador for NordVPN. The partnership aims to make conversations about cybersecurity simpler and encourage people to pay more attention to their online security.
At the beginning of the press conference in Vilnius, Shaq also spoke Lithuanian.
“I am Shaquille O’Neal. I am very happy,” he said.
Shaq’s connection with Lithuania began back in 1988
Shaquille O’Neal’s connection with Lithuania is not new. As a teenager, he took notice of Arvydas Sabonis, who played against the United States national team at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.
Sabonis and Shaq later met on NBA courts. One of their most memorable matchups came in 2000, when the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals, with Sabonis playing for Portland.
More than 25 years later, Shaquille O’Neal finally arrived in Lithuania and had the opportunity to visit the home country of Arvydas Sabonis.
Asked about meeting Sabonis, Shaq said he was hoping for a hug. He also recalled that Sabonis had been one of his favorite players when he was younger.
Shaquille O’Neal to watch Žalgiris game in Kaunas
Shaq’s visit to Lithuania is not limited to Vilnius. On the evening of September 29, the NBA legend will travel to Kaunas, where he will watch Žalgiris play their first home EuroLeague game of the season against Olympiacos of Piraeus at Žalgirio Arena.
Shaq also said he was looking forward to experiencing the EuroLeague atmosphere in person. It will be the first EuroLeague game he has watched live from the arena.
Why did Shaq choose NordVPN?
The main reason for Shaquille O’Neal’s visit to Lithuania is his new partnership with Lithuanian-founded cybersecurity company Nord Security and its product NordVPN.
During a conversation with NEWSROOM IN reporter Aivaras Goodman, Shaquille O’Neal was asked what convinced him to put his name behind NordVPN, given that he has previously said he only works with brands he genuinely believes in.
Shaq said that NordVPN reached out to him, that the brand was already familiar to him, and that he considers NordVPN one of the best names in cybersecurity.
According to Shaq, it is important for him to work with companies he can personally trust.
Nord Security founders Tomas Okmanas and Eimantas Sabaliauskas
Shaquille O’Neal also met with Nord Security founders Tomas Okmanas and Eimantas Sabaliauskas in Vilnius.
Company representatives explained that Shaq was chosen not only because of his global fame. According to them, the NBA legend’s image is associated with security, community, sports and entertainment, making him a strong fit to help bring NordVPN’s message to a wider audience.
Nord Security was founded in 2012 by Tomas Okmanas and Eimantas Sabaliauskas. NordVPN has grown into one of the company’s main products, while the company itself now develops various cybersecurity and digital privacy solutions.
Shaq in Lithuania to try cold beet soup and promises to return
During his visit, Shaquille O’Neal said he planned to try Lithuanian food. Among the dishes he mentioned were cold beet soup and fried bread.
The NBA legend also did not rule out the possibility of bringing a DJ Diesel performance to Lithuania in the future.
On September 30, Shaq plans to return to Nord Security’s headquarters in Vilnius. There he will meet with company employees for a special question-and-answer event.
