SUMMARY
- In the latest episode of his podcast, Shaquille O'Neal recently opened up about why he doesn't want his children to play basketball.
- He once spoke about how he wants his six children to be model citizens and want them to be very educated.
Shaquille O’Neal is widely regarded as one of the best basketball players in the history of the NBA. He played in the league for 19 seasons and had a storied career. He built a strong resume with accomplishments that one can only dream about. Despite being a successful basketball player himself, O’Neal surprisingly doesn’t want his children to follow the same path as him and play basketball.
The latest video released on ‘The Big Podcast with Shaq’ YouTube channel features another former NBA player, Jamal Crawford with whom O’Neal and co-host Adam Lefkoe talk about various topics. Amidst this, the Lakers star opened up about raising his children and revealed some shockingly surprising details. This was in response to Lefkoe’s question about what it is like to raise children with their dreams after achieving one’s dreams.
After briefly talking about other overworked personalities which included Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry, O’Neal said, “The good thing about me is that I never wanted any of my kids to play basketball.” He continued to explain that if his children want to play then he is cool about it, and if they don’t, then also he is fine with it.
Furthermore, Shaq mentioned that he has six children and went on to talk about the kind of professions he would like to have in the family. He said, “I wouldn’t mind a veterinarian, doctor, a musician, someone with a makeup line. Like I want them to be able to.” O’Neal emphasized that this is why he wants them to have two degrees so that they can do what they want to.
Shaquille O’Neal used Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry as examples
In the same podcast before talking about how he doesn’t want his children to play basketball, Shaquille O’Neal revealed that he used examples of Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry to explain his children. He said, “Kobe grew up like you grew up, Steph Curry grew up like you grew up.” By this, the Laker star meant that their fathers were former basketball players and so on they had to take the legacy forward in the right way.
“But the difference between us and them is they overwork”, O’Neal said while trying to highlight that to be an NBA champion, they need to work hard and with determination. You must be wondering what are his kids doing right now. Well turns out, that not all of them have decided on basketball as their career and there are variations like Shaq wanted.
Shaquille O’Neal wants his kids to earn their way: ‘We ain’t rich, I’m rich’
“You gotta have a college degree if you want me to invest in one of your companies, you’re going to have to present it, bring it to me, I’m not giving you money.” pic.twitter.com/HouxAkePXK
— SAY CHEESE! 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) November 1, 2021
The eldest, Taahirah O’Neal worked at PepsiCo as a communications associate analyst after graduation. Shaq’s son Myles O’Neal is inclined towards fashion and has partaken in modeling assignments for various reputable brands. Shareef O’Neal who is 24 years old is currently signed with the G League. On the other hand, Amirah and Shaqir have expressed interest in sports but haven’t decided on anything specific. Me’Arah has signed with Florida to play college basketball for the Gators.
Shaquille O’Neal aims to build O’Neal Family Corporation
Shaquille O’Neal has always been open about the way he is raising his children and his ways have often taken everyone by surprise. He once spoke about how he wants his six children to be model citizens and want them to be very educated. It doesn’t come as a surprise that with a popular father like O’Neal, his children are bound to face and benefit from nepotism.
The former basketball player wants his children to understand and respect nepotism. Furthermore, he talked about how a lot of family corruption has been around for a long time and said, “I would like to have an O’Neal Family Corporation that’s done the right way.” Shaq emphasized that whether they play basketball or not, he wants them to be happy and productive citizen.