Shareef O’Neal is the son of Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal. While he is not currently in the NBA, he is currently part of the G-League Ignite. That is certainly a good developmental move for him, and perhaps we’ll see him in the league in the future.
Robert Horry has previously criticized Shareef O’Neal, claiming that Shaquille O’Neal needed to tell his son that “he can’t be playing off the damn O’Neal name”. Horry also told the younger O’Neal to “put forth some more effort”.
“I picked up my phone and I was getting ready to call Shaq like ‘Yo man, you gotta tell your son…he can’t be playing off the damn O’Neal name. He gotta go out there and play.’ You gotta put forth some more effort man. You know Shareef’s such a nice kid, that I don’t know if he has that dog in him to go out there and take what he wants.”
Recently, Shareef O’Neal responded to the criticisms from Robert Horry, claiming that he knows that the criticism comes “outta love and no disrespect”. He also pointed out that he is “heading in the right step”.
https://twitter.com/SSJreef/status/1554965326852341761
I know this outta love and no disrespect!!! I got you BIG SHOT but you know who raised me , I don’t quit. Always been taught to go get it and take it . Been heading in the right step …like I said I got you! Youll see
From this statement, it is clear that Shareef O’Neal took the criticism well. The G-League is a viable pathway to the league, and we’ve seen players like Fred VanVleet become All-Stars despite coming from the G-League.
Hopefully, we do see Shareef O’Neal in the league at some point after his G-League stint. While it is unlikely that he’ll be as dominant of a player as Shaquille O’Neal, perhaps he’ll end up having a solid career.
