CLEVELAND — Shaquille O’Neal sets the bar high for Myles Garrett.
On TNT’s “NBA Tip-Off” show Thursday, Hall of Famer O’Neal started a run of friendly wagering when he bet Browns three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Myles Garrett $1,000 he wouldn’t score 25 points in Friday night’s NBA All- Star Celebrity Game.
Garrett immediately countered, “Bet it. It’ll go right to Waterboys.”
In September 2019, Garrett was named captain of the NFL Waterboys program, founded by retired NFL defensive end Chris Long four years earlier. The charity’s mission is to unite players and fans in support of providing clean, accessible drinking water to one million people worldwide.
During Garrett’s TNT appearance, Hall of Famer Charles Barkley followed O’Neal’s lead, offering Garrett $1,000 for every point he scored. Unfamiliar with Waterboys, Barkley added, “I’m going to trust it’s a great cause.”
Countered Garrett, “Well, then, I’ve gotta at least drop 30 then, huh?”
Kenny Smith followed with a commitment of $1,000 for every rebound.
For basketball purists, the celebrity contest at the Wolstein Center may have been unwatchable at times, with Garrett’s Team Nique falling to Browns running back Kareem Hunt and Team Walton, 65-51. But Garrett finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and three dunks, and enjoyed another slam after the buzzer.
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It took Garrett only a second to calculate the total raised for Waterboys, an indication he was well aware of his stats.
“Twenty-one thousand, not bad hauling,” Garrett said.
As for his point total, Garrett said, “I didn’t get Shaq’s bet, I’m sick about that, but I’ll make up for it.
“I promised 30 and I didn’t get it, but I was trying to get everybody involved in the game and it’s about having fun.”
Hunt was a late addition, replacing Olympian Nyjah Huston, a professional skateboarder. Hunt finished with four points and one rebound.
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The arena was nearly full by the third quarter and the crowd included Cavs guards Darius Garland and Collin Sexton seated courtside. The pair chatted at halftime with former Cav Anderson Varejao, who turned in a double-double for Team Walton. Booby Gibson represented the Cavs on Team Nique, but did not play.
Garrett was in the starting lineup for Team Nique, coached by Dominique Wilkins, while Hunt came off the bench for Team Walton, coached by Bill Walton. Former Cavs Richard Jefferson (Team Walton) and Kendrick Perkins (Team Nique) served as assistant coaches, in addition to working as analysts on the telecast.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said last season Garrett had retired from basketball, and Garrett admitted the night took its toll.
“It was tough. I hadn’t been doing anything really the last three weeks, really since the season ended,” Garrett said. “I’ve been busy with flying. It was fun to just take a basketball and get some shots up.”
Garrett said Hunt joining the game “was out of nowhere.” At least a couple times, they found themselves guarding each other.
“I wasn’t expecting it, but I was glad to see him. He loves to chirp,” Garrett said of Hunt. “He said he was going to lock me up.
“Kareem, ever since we’ve played when he was on Kansas City he’s always been a talker, so I love his competitiveness.”
In the second quarter, Garrett threatened to rip the rim from its bolts on an attempted slam, when he set a screen then peeled off for a pass. He finally connected on a dunk midway through the third quarter and said later he was “rusty” on the spectacular plays.
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Platoon instructor Alex Toussaint was the game’s MVP with 18 points and six rebounds for Team Walton. He knew better than to get in the way of Garrett, who stands 6-foot-4 and 272 pounds.
“I told him I was moving outta the way,” Toussaint said. “I told him you’re not gonna dunk on me in front of my mama on TV, so I’m going to move out the way when you come through the lane, simple as that.”
Toussaint said he loved being on the same court with the two Browns.
“As a little kid I wanted to be a pro sports athlete,” Toussaint said. “So just to look on the floor and see someone like Myles Garrett, his talent, his potential. Just to stand next to him, I’m living out a dream right now.”
Garrett enjoyed the evening in front of a partisan crowd, regardless of losing the bet with O’Neal. Garrett didn’t get the loudest applause during player introductions — rapper Jack Harlow was a big favorite — but fans marveled at a side of Garrett they’d seen only on video.
“This is part of that Cleveland connection,” Garrett said. “This is a city that has embraced me and I’m just trying to give back however I can.”
Marla Ridenour can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her de ella on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism