• Shaquille O’Neal has always been a special physical specimen
• Shaq started growing very tall early in his life, dominating youth basketball on sheer size
• Opposing parents refused to believe Shaq’s age, with one saying he would be the greatest basketball player ever if he was that size at that age
Shaquille O’Neal was one of the finest basketball players of his generation, largely due to his incredible physical tools. That was true at a very early age, as O’Neal once narrated a story of how people didn’t believe he was 10 years old after his team won a game 100-4.
“My father taught me all sports… This one time, we beat this team like a hundred to four. There wasn’t a mercy rule. I remember this kid, his father was running on the court upset. He said, ‘No way this kid is 10. If he is, he will be the greatest basketball player ever. My father was so happy, he said, ‘See? You listen to me.'”
O’Neal and his stepfather shared an incredibly close relationship. Shaq’s biological father didn’t raise him, but Shaq credits his stepfather for teaching him everything he knew on his path to becoming an NBA legend, including some really strong morality lessons.
The Moment Shaquille O’Neal Decided To Commit To Basketball
In the same clip from above, Shaq also talked about going to see a live NBA game for the first time, featuring Julius Erving and the New York Knicks.
“Shortly after that, went to a Knicks game to see my favorite player in the world, Dr. J. He goes baseline and the crowd goes crazy. I always addressed my father as ‘sir’. He would always say, he used to train me and I used to wimp out, ‘You’re not ready to get away from me.’ But after that moment when I saw Dr. J, I told him, ‘Sir, I know what I want to be. I wanna be an NBA player’. He says to me, 12 years old, ‘If you listen to me, I will make you one of the greatest big men of all time.'”
It’s safe to say Shaq’s father lived up to that promise, raising a son who would one day change the rules of the game because of his impact on the sport.
Shaquille O’Neal Is One Of The Greatest Centers Of All Time
O’Neal is referred to as the most dominant player ever because his size was unbeatable. But he combined that physical power with surprising grace and elegance on his feet. In his prime, O’Neal was a mobile monster who could run the ball up the court if he wanted to.
Shaq ended up having an 19-year career where he averaged 23.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. He won four titles, three Finals MVP, and one regular season MVP (nearly unanimous). He made 15 All-Star teams, 14 All-NBA teams, and three All-Defense Teams.
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