Shaq's German mentor Dale Brown dies

Dale Brown died Friday at the age of 90, ending a career that shaped one of the most recognizable athletes in modern history.

Brown and Shaquille O'Neal first met in 1984 at a military base in West Germany. O'Neal, then 13 years old, was already 6 feet 9 inches tall. He approached Brown during a basketball clinic to ask for advice on improving his game. Brown initially mistook the teenager for a soldier and asked how long he had served in the Army.

After the surprise, Brown began sending O'Neal letters and basketball exercises. They maintained a long correspondence as O'Neal developed into a top high school prospect. Brown eventually recruited the player to LSU, where he competed from 1989 to 1992. During that time, O'Neal earned two consensus All-American honors and two SEC Player of the Year awards.

O'Neal became the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft. The relationship between coach and player extended well beyond Baton Rouge. In a 1999 letter congratulating Brown on his induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, O'Neal wrote, "You are the only college coach I ever had, and the only one I ever wanted." Brown attended O'Neal's first NBA championship celebration with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000.

In 2000, O'Neal returned to LSU to finish his college degree, fulfilling a promise he had made to his family and Brown before leaving school in 1992. O'Neal described Brown as a "father figure, leader, and a motivator" in a 2015 interview with Esquire. ESPN released a documentary titled "Shaq & Dale" that same year, directed by Hannah Storm and narrated by Tim McGraw. The film traced their bond from Germany through O'Neal's professional success.

LSU announced on Oct. 21 that Brown had been selected as the 2027 recipient of the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award. O'Neal recorded a video message congratulating his former coach on the honor. Brown was scheduled to receive the award in April 2027. The two men reportedly stayed in regular contact through letters and emails for decades.

Brown's death was confirmed Friday. His legacy includes developing a player who became a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a central figure in the sport's history. O'Neal's tribute to Brown appeared just two days before the coach's death, marking a final public moment of connection between the two.