Shareef O’Neal, the son of legend Shaquille O’Neal, underwent open heart surgery in December 2018 after getting diagnosed as having an aberrant coronary artery, a condition where an artery grows in an inappropriate spot due to a congenital heart abnormality. He revealed in a heartwarming interview that he had recovered sooner than he had anticipated, crediting his father’s comments of support for his rapid recovery.
Shareef said that he was just waking up and his helpers were aiding him in how to walk again. At that time. Shaq said, “If you come back from this, you’re the baddest man on the planet”, to his son Shareef. (h/t via Youtube)
Shareef O’Neal claimed that the most effective advice he has ever received from his father Shaq, came in a poignant hospital visit as he was recovering from open-heart surgery in 2018. Shareef informed the show’s host, Eric Mika, that his father’s advice was essential in assisting him with making the move from playing recreationally to professionally.
“If you come back from this, you the baddest MF on the planet.”
Shareef O’Neal shares what his father told him after his surgery. Watch the full interview here: https://t.co/y4oqgxgd4Y pic.twitter.com/v7U55LRxSf
— Playmaker (@playmaker) September 26, 2023
Shareef’s heart condition has created hurdles in his route to the NBA, but his dad’s guidance aided him in triumphing over his self-doubt. Shaq said to him, “Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do something.”
What happened to Shareef O’Neal?
At the age of just 18, when Shareef O’Neal underwent open heart surgery to mend his coronary artery, he came face-to-face with a formidable obstacle. His foreseeable future in basketball was in doubt following the condition and treatment of his heart.
He recalled that his father remembered the fact that “it was the stories that calmed him down”. So Shaq began to tell young Shareef stories when he panicked.
“But when you go in that room, you’re gonna meet a young lady named Anesthesia and you won’t remember anything.’ [Shareef] said, ‘What’s her name?’ I said, ‘Anesthesia, she’s gonna kiss you and then you know wake up and everything will be fine“, Shaq cooked this whole story up.
FAMOUS CHD FRIDAY: Shareef O’Neal, son of Shaq O’Neal was born with a right. anomalous coronary artery. However, the defect was not discovered until Shareef, was a teen & heading off to UCLA to play for the bruins. After OHS, Shareef worked his way back to the court. #CHDTEENS pic.twitter.com/sPAX5x8z8u
— 2HEARTS (@2HEARTSDENVER) September 10, 2021
Shareef revealed that his open heart surgery, which necessitated a three-week confinement in the hospital, shortened drastically. Shareef said, “I had to be in the hospital for about three weeks; I think I made it out in like eight days.”
After a successful surgery, Shareef was all set to take part in games for both the LA Lakers and the G League Ignite throughout the 2022 Summer League. Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, has been a dear friend of Shareef’s and is undergoing treatment since he recently suffered a cardiac arrest during a basketball practice on Monday.