Shaquille O’Neal, often known as Shaq, is without a doubt one of the most dominant and larger-than-life figures in NBA history. Rising at towering 7 feet 1-inch height and weight over 300 pounds during his playing days made him a powerful opponent on the basketball court.
Even as a child, Shaq’s sheer size resulted in endless amusing and fascinating experiences that made an imprint on those around him. One such event included his mother, Lucille O’Neal, who got into a humorous “fistfight” with a skewed bus driver who couldn’t believe her kid was only two years old.
How big was Shaquille O’Neal when he was a teenager?
Shaquille O’Neal was meant for success from an early age. Shaq, who was born on March 6, 1972, in Newark, New Jersey, outgrown his peers in both height and weight. He was bigger than most toddlers when he was just a baby, which made for hilarious encounters.
Furthermore, Shaquille O’Neal revealed that his mother used to tell him a narrative about his unusual size as a two-year-old. According to Shaq, Lucille would take him on the bus, which is free for children under the age of three.
The bus driver, on the other hand, couldn’t imagine that someone as large as Shaq could be so young. The NBA icon said, “Of course, you know, kids three and under ride the bus for free. So she would drag me up to the bus, and the guy was like, ‘Hey, you gotta pay the extra money.’ And my mom would say, ‘No, he’s only two.’ I’ve actually seen her fistfight with a bus driver one time because the bus driver refused to believe I was just two years old.”
This amazing narrative highlights Shaq‘s enormous physique, even at such a young age. It’s no surprise that he went on to become one of the most powerful forces in basketball history. Shaq’s physical characteristics were unrivaled during his playing days.
His sheer size, paired with his quickness and talent, made him an unstoppable force on the court. Shaq’s remarkable growth didn’t end there. He had already topped 6 feet 7 inches in height by the time he was a teenager, startling his friends. His enormous stature not only offered him a natural edge on the basketball court but also made him stand out everywhere he went.
The visible height difference between the legendary basketball athlete Shaquille O’Neal and Metallica members James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett when they met each other back in 2019. pic.twitter.com/SzG40vaUzQ
— Rock and Roll Garage (@rocknrollgarag1) March 30, 2022
It’s no surprise that his mother had to endure battles just to convince others of his age. This one-of-a-kind encounter surely altered Shaq’s outlook and spurred him to embrace his amazing athletic abilities. Shaq’s towering physique was a driving force in his basketball career. He thrived at every level, from high school through college to the NBA. His dominance in the court was unrivaled, allowing him to easily overpower opponents and score.
His incredible stature, paired with his abilities and charisma, helped him become an NBA star and charmed him to millions of fans across the world. Shaq’s rise from a kid defying bus drivers’ skepticism to one of the greatest basketball players of all time demonstrates the impact of his larger-than-life personality.