Exclusive | Shaq avoids texting NBA players ‘because they’re a–holes’

He’s no longer a team player.

Shaquille O’Neal has put himself in a timeout from his fellow ballplayers — and doesn’t text any NBA star past or present.

“None. I don’t like athletes or superstars because they’re a–holes,” he told The Post.

“I denounced myself from being a celebrity about 10 years ago because those people are weird. I’m not weird.”

Even when Shaq comes to Times Square to visit the tech superstore tm:rw, which he joined as an investor and partner, he keeps it low key.

“Whenever I come, it’s me and two guys. No entourage. There’s nothing but homeboys coming in,” he said.

“We come in here, we take care of business … We sign autographs. We treat people with honor and respect … I want to be a regular guy.”

O’Neal, 54, also stays grounded and has never stopped hitting the books, and currently has three degrees — a bachelor’s of arts, an MBA, and a PhD in education.

Many people think he didn’t actually earn the Dr. before his name.

“The funniest thing I get is, ‘Oh it’s honorary.’ I say, ‘No, it’s not. I had to go to school and write papers and do all that stuff,” he said.

The four-time NBA champ, who has a net worth of $500 million, earned his PhD from Barry University in Miami in 2012 to set an example for his six children and his young fans.

“I’m very super successful without that, but I wanted to stress to my children and children around that education is very important,” he said.

The Louisiana State University alum — who left college after his junior year for the NBA, but went back to complete his bachelor’s — stressed the value of athletes getting schooled in business.

“We talk about the NIL [student-athlete using their name, image or likeness to earn money] what’s going on now. People always go to the money first, but you have to have the education on how to manage the money,” he said.

“So I want my children and those that follow me to say, ‘OK, he’s educated. Maybe I should do it.’”

Dr. O’Neal is currently working on a fourth degree: a master’s in liberal arts.

“I thought about sports psychology, but it was a little too much for me, the psychology field,” he said.

In addition to his multiple degrees, O’Neal can also add real estate investor to his resume.

A native of Newark, he made sure to stop by his former neighborhood during his most recent NYC trip.

He said the area has changed for the better, partly because of his investments — two residential high-rises valued together at more than $230 million.

“It was part of my vision because one day, me and my mom came back and it was kind of beat up, and she kind of had a tear in her eye, and was like, ‘I remember when this city was beautiful. Somebody needs to do something.’”

Although he played in the NBA for 19 seasons, the Hall of Famer’s favorite pieces of memorabilia come from his days playing with the late Kobe Bryant on the Los Angeles Lakers.

“I have a lot of Shaq and Kobe stuff in the house. It just brings back memories of the greatest one-two punch ever.”

When asked about the cons to being 7′ 1″ — the powerhouse smiled and said,

“None. When you’re this tall and this beautiful, it’s awesome.”