Shaq O'Neal: Forget the recount, Trump won election 'fair and square'

Shaquille O'Neal believes there's no need to discuss recounts, because President-elect Donald Trump won the election "fair and square."Shaquille O'Neal believes there's no need to discuss recounts, because President-elect Donald Trump won the election "fair and square."

The NBA Hall of Famer and analyst told The Hill on Wednesday that it's time to give Trump a chance, echoing comments he made earlier this month with the "NBA on TNT" crew.

“We have a process that’s been going on forever,” O'Neal said. “And whoever wins, you just hope he does what he says he’s going to do. You know, candidate Trump promised a lot of people a lot of things.

“Now that he’s president-elect, you just hope that he can make the world a better place. He won fair and square. We have to give him a chance. There’s no need talking about recounts and this and that.”

Trump and Shaq have previously acknowledged their friendship, with the 15-time All-Star calling the business man-turned politician "a straight-up guy" who speaks to an "ecletic-type audience."

O'Neal did agree shortly after the election that "everyone was in shock" after Trump defeated Hillary Clinton — who agreed to assist the Jill Stein-led recount request in three swing states — to become president.

"I'm 45 years old and the world is more divided now than it's ever been," O'Neal said on TNT. "There's a lot of stuff going on. It's my hope and prayer that him as a leader of the free world brings people closer together.

"It's kind of hard to believe that a guy with no political experience is the president of the United States. That's just really hard to believe. And I agree with (Charles Barkley), we have to give him a chance to do his job. Candidate Trump made a lot of promises, now we just hope that President-elect Trump, soon to be President Trump, hopefully he can make this world a better place for us to live in. Everybody was in shock, but it's over and done. We live in a democracy. He won; he's the president; now we have to give him a chance."

I really hope Trump changes the views of people. If things aren't done, I see the world going down in flames.