Shaquille O’Neal has the largest shoe size in the history of the NBA with a size 24-EEE shoe.

Tim Duncan was training to become a member of the 1992 U.S. Men’s Olympic Swim Team until Hurricane Hugo destroyed the only pool he could train in. He had a fear of sharks and thus he refused to train in the ocean. To keep in shape he began playing basketball and the rest is history.

When Wilt Chamberlain became the first NBA player to earn $100,000 in salary in 1965, his longtime rival Bill Russell demanded that he be paid $100,001. His salary was immediately raised.

Kobe Bryant’s parents had to cosign his first NBA contract because he was only 17 when he was drafted.

In 1999, Ron Artest applied for a part-time job at Circuit City during his rookie season with the Bulls. He ended up working only one shift.

When Pete Maravich was 26 he said in an interview, “I don’t want to play 10 years in NBA and die of a heart attack at 40.” He proceeded to have a 10 year NBA career and then die of a heart attack at 40.

On the day that Magic Johnson announced his HIV-positive status in 1991, Pau Gasol was 11 years old and decided that he wanted to be a doctor and find a cure for AIDS. He enrolled in medical school at the University of Barcelona but wound up making it to the NBA.