Shaquille O’Neal is well-known across the NBA community due to his accomplishments. The 4x NBA champion is widely regarded as the most unstoppable and dominant force that the game has ever seen. To those who do not know much about O’Neal’s early life, Shaq’s biological father abandoned his family and never had a relationship with his son.
His mother Lucille struggled to raise him as a single mother for a few years. Thankfully for them, a man named Philip Harrison entered their life and helped bring the family together. Although they were not biologically related, Harrison treated Shaq like his own and raised him. This speaks to a truly good and even inspirational personality.
Well, he certainly inspired his son who continues to compliment Harrison even after his death. In fact, Shaq has even gone far enough to claim that his very sense of responsibility comes from his father. Let us take a closer look and find out what O’Neal had to say.
Shaquille O’Neal desires to take care of his family like his father did
Although Shaq is viewed as an incredibly successful and nearly unshakable person, he is human just like the rest of us, and could potentially feel vulnerable or under pressure at times. However, the manner in which his late stepfather operated urged O’Neal to shrowd himself in responsibility.
During an interview with Anas Bukhash, Shaquille O’Neal was asked to elaborate on his source of strength when it came to the duties that were required of him. Here is what he said in response.
“When he passed away, all his powers came to me. I am the glue that holds the family together so when you know you’re talking about my problems I have to handle everyone else’s problems. 6 children, two beautiful women that gave me those 6 children, mother, remaining sister, remaining brother all those problems are mine. You know your college tuition and I’m the one who gotta take care of it. Leak in the roof in my mom’s house I’m the one who takes care of it. Because I never saw my father go (exasperated sounds) I can’t do it…If he did it this way I gotta do it this way.”
One should certainly commend Shaq for taking over the role of the man in the house and protecting his family members. While it would undoubtedly be difficult at times, remembering that his stepfather did the same thing when they weren’t as financially well-off gives O’Neal the strength to take care of his family.