United Kingdom, March 26 -- Shaquille O'Neal has blamed "youngsters" focused on "going viral" for fake claim he slid into Sabrina Carpenter's DMs.

The 54-year-old NBA legend - who has been nicknamed Big Diesel - has addressed speculation he tried to shoot his shot with the 26-year-old pop star.

Shaq, who hosts The Big Podcast, told listeners: "First of all, ladies, the Diesel got way more game than that. I'm just saying."

The basketball star - who has 29-year-old daughter Taahirah with former flame Arnetta Yardbourgh, as well as Miles, 28, Shareef, 26, Amirah, 24, Shaqir, 22, and Me-arah, 19, with ex wife Shaunie Henderson - suggested the fake messages were created by "youngsters" focused on "the algorithm and going viral".

Shaq was a...