Shaquille O'Neal reveals he wore suit he couldn't afford when being drafted first overall by the Orlando Magic in 1992 - before earning over $500MILLION across his 19-year career

NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal revealed he wore a suit to the 1992 NBA Draft he could not afford.  

The best player in college basketball was near-broke 20 years before the inception of name, image, and likeness. Before being selected No 1 overall by the Orlando Magic and earning $3million his rookie year, O'Neal did not have $2,000 to his name when leaving LSU. 

As former NBA Commissioner David Stern read O'Neal's name first at the draft held in Portland, Shaq accepted the honor after making a deal with a local store owner, he told PEOPLE. 

Across O'Neal's 19-year career, he earned over $500million, and has made more since with his broadcasting career and business ventures. 

'I just went to a suit store and got a suit on consignment,' O'Neal told PEOPLE. 'The suit was $1,500. I didn't have $1,500 at the time.'

'The guy looked at me and said, "Shaq, you're nice. You're a gentleman. I know you're going to do big things. Just pay me when you can,"' O'Neal added.

O'Neal said the owner gave him two suits worth $3,000. 

The deal came from what O'Neal said was 'Rochester's Big and Tall at the time' and his draft-day circumstances is part of what led him to designing his big and tall clothing line with JCPenney. 

O'Neal added his two suits came in different colors, one his mother much preferred over the other. O'Neal wanted a 'muddy green', but ended up going with his mother's choice of an 'off aquatic ocean green.' 

The then-20-year-old O'Neal paired his suit with a white dress shirt, maroon tie, and a white pocket square. 

Good thing he had proper fashion, as O'Neal ended up becoming one of the best big men in NBA history as a 15-time All-Star.