David Duchovny Recalls Courtside Connection With Shaq, Still Hopes for Friendship

David Duchovny is still waiting for a friendship with Shaquille O'Neal to officially begin.

The actor made an appearance on Hot Ones, where he opened up about an unforgettable moment that unfolded during a Lakers game. As the team built a commanding lead, Shaq left the bench and took a seat next to Duchovny courtside.

"It was a highlight. I have the picture. I have it framed. I look like a child next to Shaq. I look like a little baby next to Shaq," Duchovny reflected on the encounter.

The interaction began earlier in the game when Shaq sent word through a ball boy that he didn't watch The X-Files when Duchovny wasn't appearing in episodes. Duchovny fired back with his own message: "tell him I don't watch the Lakers when he's injured."

When Shaq eventually joined him in the stands, Duchovny thought the moment signaled the beginning of something bigger. "And I'm like me and Shaq are gonna be friends now, look at this," he joked during the interview.

However, that friendship never quite materialized. "So, Shaq, I'm still here," Duchovny quipped, seemingly extending an open invitation.

The conversation also touched on other memorable moments from Duchovny's career, including his experiences at MTV Rock N' Jock, a time he worked as a bartender at Radio City Music Hall where he witnessed Prince during a soundcheck, and various behind-the-scenes stories from The X-Files and Californication.