The 31,000-square-foot home, with a full indoor basketball court, was asking for $16.5 million last time



Retired NBA star Shaquille O'Neal finally registered a buyer in Windermere, Florida -- one of the largest homes for sale in the Sunshine State.

The list of the 31,000-square-foot waterfront home, which comes with a full-size indoor basketball court and a car showroom of more than 17, has been updated to say the sale is on hold. The home listing agent, Tiffany Pantozzi of Side Real Estate, confirmed that the house was in a contract for sale.

The deal isn't exactly Dunk's peace for the NBA All-Star 15 times. The final sale price won't be public until the house is closed, but the giant's order was last ordered for $16.5 million, 40% below its original price of $28 million.

Mr O'Neill, 48, first lifted the giant property to market in mid-2018, revealing a home designed specifically for the kind of size that suits a 7-foot professional athlete.

The contemporary Mediterranean-inspired house spans a four-acre property within Isleworth Golf and Country Club and has 12 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms.

While the house's huge basic bedroom suite and a few other bedrooms occupy the smaller upper floor, the bulk of the mansion spreads across the first floor, including a large cavernous room with double-height ceilings and western views of Butler Lake.

Besides the basketball court and car gallery, the house features a cigar bar with a humidifier, a soundproofed home theater, a lakeside office and a wine store.

Outside, the basketball legend built a 95-foot resort-style swimming pool with a waterfall, a tiki cabin and a pier with two covered boat slips, according to the list.

Like many other parts of Florida, Orange County - where Windermere is located - has seen a 2020 sign, as many home buyers, driven by the Covid-19 pandemic and record low mortgage rates, entered the market.

In December, for example, the region recorded a 21% increase in sales year-on-year, according to data from the Orlando Regional Association of Realtors. Meanwhile, the average price rose by more than 10% at the time, driven by demand for luxury homes.

Mr O'Neill cannot be reached for comment. Former home agents said he decided to sell the house because he spends more time in Atlanta, where he works as a tv sports analyst for TNT.