New Jersey native and former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal has endorsed Democrat Phil Murphy in this year's contest to succeed Republican Gov. Chris Christie.
Murphy's campaign says O'Neal backed Murphy on Monday during a fundraiser in Newark.
O'Neal had backed Christie in his 2013 re-election bid, calling the governor a "great man." He also appeared in an ad for Christie.
Shaq was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 2016. The four-time NBA champion was one of the most dominant players in the league in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and his stardom transcended into the entertaiment world as he appeared in starring roles in movies, TV shows, video games and music videos.
Murphy is leading the Republican hopeful, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, in polls ahead of the Nov. 7 election.
Christie is term-limited.
