Shaq buys into the Sacramento Kings

As first reported by USA Today, Shaquille O'Neal has purchased a stake in the Sacramento Kings.

Shaquille O'Neal — "Dr. O'Neal," if you ask him — is hoping to help cure the Sacramento Kings.

As the Kings continue their image makeover that was sparked by the late May sale of the team to Vivek Ranadive, they have made a big and bold move by adding O'Neal as a minority owner. The TNT analyst once gleaned pleasure in deriding the Kings, whom he owned in a very different way when his Lakers thrice knocked their rival out of the playoffs en route to titles in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Now his joy will come from seeing one of the league's worst-performing franchises turn things around.

His involvement will begin in earnest today, as O'Neal — who has a doctorate degree in education from Barry University in Miami — plans to meet with Kings players and coaches in Sacramento before having dinner with franchise centerpiece and new protégé DeMarcus Cousins.

Just in case any Kings fans still feel riled about the "Queens" stuff, he's showing the city some love and dubbing it '"Shaqramento".