Shaquille O’Neal came into the league as a highly touted prospect expected to dominate. It can be a lot of pressure to handle, and during his rookie year, he felt it after a bad outing against the New York Knicks.
Shaquille O’Neal spoke to his father, Phillip Harrison about it, and Harrison chose that moment to teach him what pressure really is.
“Matter of fact, I was playing the Knicks. And I had a bad game. My father said, ‘Get home, now.’ I had to take a private plane to get home. He said, ‘You was nervous playing against Patrick Ewing?’ I said yes. He said, ‘You felt the pressure?’ I said yes.
“He said, ‘Get in the car.’ So we drove and there was a homeless family sitting there. He said, ‘You see, that’s pressure. Don’t ever say to me that you’re under a lot of pressure again. Young guy making a lot of money, that’s pressure, get out.’
“So I had to get out and hang out with the family and once he told me that, everything was smooth. Imagine that, not knowing where your next meal is coming from. That’s pressure.”
O’Neal played against Patrick Ewing in November 1992, and the Knicks ended up beating the Magic during that game 92-77. Despite this, Shaq had more points and rebounds than Ewing on the night. The fact that he was still scared shows how good Ewing was at the time, but it just goes to show that O’Neal had the talent even before he unlocked the necessary mentality.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Stepfather Phillip Harrison Was A Huge Influence On His Life
Shaquille O’Neal would go on to become a three-time Finals MVP and four-time champion. He dominated the NBA and won everything there was to. And his stepfather Phillip Harrison, who he refers to as his father, was the man that inspired him to achieve greatness. He was the reason Shaq started playing the way he did, dunking hard and dominating in the post.
O’Neal once revealed that Harrison also made him give burgers to a homeless man to teach him about what is important in life. Shaq in turn ensured that his father was always taken care of, even giving him almost 10 times the salary he previously earned to work for him. It was a special relationship and undoubtedly the reason that O’Neal became who he is today.
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