Shaquille O'Neal

Former Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal also sported the purple and gold - and green - at LSU.

(Mark J. Terrill/AP)

Four-time NBA champion and 15-time All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal unearthed the age-old conversation about college athletes and "improper benefits" during public comments at a Lakers "All-Access" event in Los Angeles Tuesday.

When asked a question about his college days at LSU, O'Neal replied, perhaps half-jokingly, that "they paid very well":

Full Shaq quote on his time at LSU: "Yes, they paid very well. Statute of limitations is up. I can talk about it...That’s right baby, LSU.” — Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) January 26, 2016

O'Neal, whose 16-year-old son Shareef is a rising talent in the recruiting ranks, also joked (or maybe not?) about steering his son toward LSU to reap the same benefits he enjoyed while in college:

Shaq wants his son to play @ LSU: “You can probably get a house, you can get 2 cars. I’ll set it up for you. I know some people down there." — Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) January 26, 2016

The younger O'Neal, a Class of 2018 power forward, has offers from Baylor, UCLA, USC, Kansas State, and, of course, LSU.