Shaquille O'Neal says he just voted for the first time in his life, after having 'never understood the Electoral College system'

• Shaquille O'Neal, 48, says he just voted for the first time in his life.
• "I've never voted before, America," Shaq said on Wednesday's episode of "The Big Podcast." "This is my first time voting. I promise you."
• The NBA icon said he hadn't voted before because he "never understood the Electoral College system."
• Shaq didn't reveal who he voted for.

Shaquille O'Neal has won four NBA titles, released a platinum rap album, and even starred as a DC Comics superhero on the silver screen.

But apparently one thing the 48-year-old hadn't done with his life before this year, however, was vote in a presidential election.

That, he says, just changed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have a confession," O'Neal said on Wednesday's episode of "The Big Podcast." "You know I always like being honest on my podcast. I've never voted before, America. But, now I'm doing all these voting campaigns, and you know one thing I never like to do is be a hypocrite."

O'Neal recently teamed up with the Boston Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum to launch the "#MyStartingFive" voting challenge, which is encouraging people to nominate five friends on social media and remind them to vote.

"So the other day, I got my absentee ballot — in other words, America, I voted for the first time, and it feels good," the NBA icon added.

"I'm honest. I've never voted before in my life. This is my first time voting. I promise you."

Asked by the cohost John Kincade why he had waited until 48 to vote for the first time, O'Neal said: "I've never understood the Electoral College system."

"You're going to get buried for this," Kincade said. "I'm glad you voted, though. That's awesome. You were very honest there."

O'Neal did not reveal who he voted for.

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