Shaquille O’Neal has a tall task at hand.
The 7-foot-1 NBA icon is staring up at his next big challenge — Jordan Wilmore, a former professional basketball player with a lifelong dream of becoming a police officer.
Wilmore, who stands at a towering 7-foot-3, completed the police academy with a spot already saved for him in the Kemah Police Department, KHOU reported.
But the 24-year-old aspiring cop, who would be the tallest officer in Texas, failed the state peace officer exam by one point, scoring a 69 instead of the required 70.
“At first I was down, but I thought, you know, I’m still young. You fail, you get right back up. Can’t be too quick to quit,” an upbeat Wilmore told the outlet.
O’Neal heard about Wilmore’s setback and reached out to Kemah Police Chief Raymond Garivey, offering to sponsor the tall recruit as he restarts the process of becoming a police officer.
“I want him to really focus on this because it’s commendable that a kid wants to be an officer. I love cops. They made me who I am,” O’Neal said.
“In my 34-year career, I’ve seen others fail, but I also see others give up. Once they’re done, they’re done. That’s not the case here. He wants to serve,” Garivey said of Wilmore.
The four-time NBA champion-turned-business extraordinaire has received several honorary titles from law enforcement agencies and served as a reserve officer in multiple departments, including the Los Angeles Port Police and the Miami Beach Police, according to Police1.
“I found out about him through jealousy,” O’Neal told KHOU. “I thought I was the tallest, handsomest cop in the world.”
It took O’Neal himself between five and seven years to graduate from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Academy.
“I wanted to just let him know he’s got my full support. I’m going to be on you, brother, make sure you get it done,” he said.
The Kemah Police Department, located just outside of Houston, has been gearing up for Wilmore’s arrival, only to find out that their equipment is not tall man-approved.
“Knees are touching the dash,” Garivey told the station after Wilmore rode in one police cruiser. “It’s very, very tight.”
The police chief is also searching for uniforms that would fit the recruit.
“He wants to serve,” Garivey said. “He truly wants to make a difference. I’m proud that he chose the thin, blue line.”
As extra motivation, O’Neal ordered a custom-made car that will be ready for Wilmore when he passes the exam.
“I’m really thankful for him helping me out and being there, and being a mentor for helping me through this,” Wilmore said.
The Memphis, Tennessee, native pushed his law enforcement ambitions to the side because he was told his 7-foot-3 build would’ve made him millions on the court, according to CBS News.
He played college basketball at Missouri, Northwestern State and Austin Peay State University before shipping overseas to try professional ball.
“It was hard for me to share, like, my dreams or, you know, the stuff I wanted to do growing up because it was, ‘Well, you just got to focus on basketball because it can make you millions,’” Wilmore said in September.
But he was always focused on helping others and moved back stateside to chase his dreams.
“I’ve always liked to help other people,” he said. “That’s just who I am. I would do anything to help out whoever I can. There is nothing really else I want to do.”
Wilmore is so dedicated to becoming a police officer that he has already turned down any offers from the NBA.
“No, I stay here,” he said.
