Shaquille O'Neal thought Parthenon was a nightclub when he visited Greece in 1994

Shaquille O'Neal was just a young man when he visited Greece in 1994 as a member of the Orlando Magic. O'Neal even thought that the Parthenon was a nightclub in Athens.

The LA Lakers legend recalled one of his most embarrassing stories in an appearance on the "Pick n' Roll Show" on COSMOTE TV. Hosts Rigas Dardalis and Vassilis Skountis asked O'Neal about his trip to Greece almost two decades ago.

"I remember that I got mad when they asked me about the Parthenon and I replied that I haven't been to that club," O'Neal said. "I wasn't well read and there was even a long article that said I don't know Greek history. I know it now and I can't wait to go back to Greece."

For those who were like Shaquille O'Neal back in 1994, the Parthenon was a former temple in Athens that was built in 432 BC. It's one of the prime tourist destinations in Greece.

---

Shaquille O'Neal names his three favorite Greeks

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks

In the same interview on COSMOTE TV, Shaquille O'Neal was asked to name his three favorite Greeks. O'Neal loves FIBA Hall of Famer Panagiotis Fasoulas, "Baby Shaq" Sofoklis Schortsanitis and "The Greek Freak" Giannis Antetokounmpo.

O'Neal revealed that he was in awe of Fasoulas, who he faced in the 1994 FIBA World Cup semifinals in Toronto, Canada. In addition to Fasoulas' game, O'Neal admired his curly hair.

"What I remember is his nice hair," O'Neal said. "He also did a head movement and the hair was going back and forth and you had trouble marking him. He was a tall player with sweet touch on the ball but he's also a nice guy."

O'Neal also remembered meeting "Baby Shaq" as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. They faced each other in a preseason game. He even thought that Schortsanitis could have made it to the NBA if he wanted to.

"He could, everything has to do with the opportunity, the acquaintances," O'Neal said. "I think he wanted to play in Greece."

---

Shaquille O'Neal reveals his Aristotle

Hall of Famer and NBA legend Julius Erving

One of Shaquille O'Neal's nicknames was "Big Aristotle," which was given to him due to his dominant MVP season in 2000. Aristotle was a Greek philosopher who tutored Alexander the Great. But who was Shaq's Aristotle?

"Aristotle to me was probably 'Dr J' Julius Erving," O'Neal said on the "Pick n' Roll Show" via COSMOTE TV. "I watched him and after him, I would say was Magic Johnson. I watched those players and I wanted to be like them. I wanted all the championships that Magic Johnson had, all the glory, everything."