Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin’s Shaq Impression Was the Highlight of NBA All-Star Weekend

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin didn’t hold back in his hilarious impression of TNT analyst Shaquille O’Neal during NBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis.

Mathurin, who won the Rising Stars MVP award on Friday night, was asked by reporters to give his best Shaq impression, and the former Wildcat showcased a natural hidden talent for impersonating one of the biggest names in NBA media.

.@BennMathurin's @SHAQ impression is spot on ???????? pic.twitter.com/MWhER1AnuR

— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 16, 2024

Benn Mathurin's Shaq impression is spot on lol pic.twitter.com/JuGewHUaOm

— Oh no he didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) February 17, 2024

The 21-year-old guard did one more just for good measure:

Bennedict Mathurin’s impression of @SHAQ is spot on ???? pic.twitter.com/7zOcDry9go

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) February 18, 2024

On Friday, Mathurin led Team Jalen to a 26—13 victory over Team Detlef to win the Rising Stars Challenge; he recorded just four points in the final, but put up 18 points including a game-winning jumper, in the semifinal. Later that weekend, Mathurin joined Pacers teammates Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner as a competing trio to win the NBA Skills Challenge in their hometown.

Mathurin is averaging 14.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in his sophomore campaign in Indiana. This year marked Mathurin’s second consecutive year participating in NBA All-Star weekend, having also won last season’s Rising Stars Challenge in Salt Lake City.