Shaquille O’Neal is 53 years old now and has made his fair share of mistakes in life. On the latest episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq, O’Neal revealed the biggest one he has made when asked about being the next voice in relationships and parenting.
“I don’t want to say I’m the next voice,” O’Neal said. “I am the voice for those that made a lot of mistakes and want to recover from the mistakes. I always say my biggest mistake was ruining my family by being dumb, and a man’s job is to protect, provide, and love.
“I could always say, ‘Well, she did this, she did that,’ no, I did it.” O’Neal continued. “Everything I think in relationships is cause and effect. Because I was doing the dumb stuff, now I’m in a 30,000 square foot house by myself. So, it’s not that I’m an expert. I just tell my stories that I have to tell because I want people to learn and understand.”
O’Neal is referring to his failed marriage to Shaunie Nelson. The couple got married in 2002 and have four children. O’Neal first filed for divorce in 2007, but the petition was later withdrawn. Nelson then wanted a divorce in 2009, and it was finalised in 2011.
O’Neal blames himself for things not working out and isn’t putting any of the blame on Nelson. As for what caused the split, infidelity is often pointed to as the biggest reason. During the Ime Udoka scandal, O’Neal admitted he was a serial cheater.
“I’m going to step down from this conversation,” Shaq said. “I was a serial cheater. It would be crazy and blasphemous for me to get up here and say, ‘Boom, boom, bam.’ I can’t do that. I know these guys personally. I know they’re going through a lot because I went through a lot.”
O’Neal also once admitted he blew relationships with two perfect women. One was Nelson and the other was Arnetta Yardbourgh, whom he reportedly dated from 1992 to 1996.
Shaquille O’Neal Shared The Biggest Regrets From His Time In The NBA
O’Neal has gone down as one of the greatest players in NBA history. He won four titles, three Finals MVPs, one MVP, and two scoring titles in 19 seasons. Despite having such an impressive resume, many believe O’Neal underachieved. He didn’t take great care of his body, but that isn’t one of the three regrets of his career.
“The only three regrets I have right now are missing 5,000 free throws, not passing up Wilt Chamberlain in [career] points, and not being higher on the scoring list,” O’Neal said.” When I got really close to him, I think I needed to average of 10 or 12 points a game to pass him up.
“So when I had the career-ending injury, I was like ‘damn I am not going to pass Wilt.’ so those are my only three regrets playing. I got no other regrets. I got four rings when I only wanted one. I’m good.”
O’Neal missed 5,317 free throws in his career. Had he even been a mediocre free-throw shooter instead of a terrible one, he would have been part of the 30,000-point club.
O’Neal finished his career with 28,596 points, compared to 31,419 for Wilt Chamberlain. He is ninth on the scoring list but looks set to drop down a spot next season, with James Harden now at 27,687 points.
