Shaquille O’Neal Reveals Why He Doesn’t Want His Kids to Play Pro Basketball

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Shaquille O’Neal is hoping his kids will take a shot at something different.

The renowned basketball figure, father of Taahirah (28), born from a previous relationship with Arnetta Yardbourgh, and Myles (28), Shareef (25), Amirah (23), Shaqir (22), and Me’arah (19) from his marriage to Shaunie Henderson, recently disclosed that he has consistently advised his children, “We don’t necessitate another basketball player. Not in the slightest.

He expressed that if someone is interested in playing basketball, it’s fine, but he encourages them to consider other paths instead. Specifically, he suggested law school, medical school, engineering, or becoming an AI inventor as alternatives. In essence, he was encouraging the person to pursue a career outside of basketball.

Shaquille added, “So I give them freedom to be who they are. I never press them.”

In simpler terms, the 53-year-old made it clear that his adult kids can reap the rewards of his achievements, but only if they’re willing to put in the effort themselves.

“In order to touch daddy’s cheese,” he joked, “you got to show me two or three degrees.”

Over a 19-year career in the NBA, Shaquille O’Neal (who played for teams like the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics) expressed gratitude that his kids haven’t let him down.

He put it simply, “I don’t issue orders like ‘do this’ or ‘do that.’ Instead, everyone should make their own choices about life.” Pausing, he added, “Though it might sound strange, I have seven wonderful children, and I’ve never faced any issues with them. Wishing you well.

Indeed, Shaq has cautioned his son Shareef against entering a career in the NBA, which is evident in his forthcoming Netflix series titled Power Moves with Shaquille O’Neal.

He made it clear to Shareef that he would have to let go of everything, didn’t he?, as reported by Today. “Count the birthday parties I missed, count the school plays I missed, count the mornings when you found me absent,” he said.

Shareef answered, “A lot,” and acknowledged his dad’s point.

Shareef reminisced about his childhood in the Netflix series, saying, “My dad was often absent for birthdays, games, and Christmas. I understood it then, but as a child, we’d always wonder, ‘Will Dad be there?’ He was a big-time basketball player, so we knew he was busy.

But despite his busy schedule, Shaquille knows how he is “truly blessed” to have such great kids.

He shared with TopMob News in 2022 that he tries to indulge them, but not excessively. He expressed gratitude for his fortunate circumstances and proudly stated that he has great children who are well-behaved and have loving mothers. Whenever they require anything, he takes care of it.

For more athletes with kids who have taken on their talents, read on…

It was no shock that Michael Jordan’s sons, Jeffrey Jordan and Marcus Jordan, aspired to emulate their father’s basketball legacy. Having honed their skills in high school, Jeffrey then pursued college basketball at both the University of Illinois and University of Central Florida, eager to carve out a niche for themselves distinct from their famous dad.

Back in 2005, I humbly confessed to The Washington Post, “I may not be the crème de la crème or even among the top tier players in my state, but I am determined to prove that I belong here and that I’m more than just a familiar name.

Additionally, Marcus engaged in basketball while pursuing his education at UCF. He attributes his father for guiding him on his personal journey.

In 2011, he shared with The Gainesville Sun that he would provide advice and guidance whenever I had queries, but essentially, he was encouraging me to remain focused and put in effort daily, as success comes after consistent hard work.

Bronny James, who was born as LeBron James Jr. on October 6, 2004, played high school basketball for Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, located within the San Fernando Valley. After completing his high school education, he moved on to the University of Southern California.

Although the NBA schedule frequently prevents LeBron from attending all of his son’s games, he has made significant efforts to watch Bronny play live. In one instance, he even chartered a plane on a day off specifically to witness Sierra Canyon take on his former high school, St. Vincent-St. Mary, located in Akron, Ohio.

LeBron shared with reporters that he will be going to watch his son play, not just any game, but against his former college team. He described the situation as incredibly meaningful, almost like a full circle coming together and something hard to believe.

In June 2024, Bronny got picked by the Los Angeles Lakers, a moment that marked him and LeBron as the first pair of father and son to play for the NBA simultaneously.

 

Besides the team, the Sierra Canyon all-star squad also includes Zaire Wade, who happens to be the oldest son of the retired Miami Heat player and former teammate of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade.

Zaire, who joined the team in December 2019 from Florida, expressed to Yahoo! Sports that they need to accept the extraordinary focus being directed towards them due to the unusual amount of attention their team is receiving. “We’re constantly under surveillance wherever we go,” he said. “I’ve always had a lot of attention on me, but this is unbelievable. This is a whole new dimension.

Yet, dissatisfied with the limited game minutes he received, Zaire declared on Instagram in April 2020 that he would be moving to Brewster Academy, located in Wolfeboro, Florida.

2021 saw Zaire selected as the tenth overall pick in the NBA G League draft, and he then joined the Salt Lake City Stars. Prior to signing with an ASEAN Basketball League team in April 2024, he played for the Cape Town Tigers in the Basketball Africa League.

 

The retired football legend could potentially be outshone by his daughter, Cha’iel Johnson, who has made a name for herself in track and field. At just 12 years old, she participated in the 2017 AAU Junior Olympics and clinched victory in the girls’ 800-meter run.

Prior to attending the University of Kentucky’s sports team, she competed for St. Thomas Aquinas High School located in Florida.

 

The NBA Hall of Famer’s third-born son, standing tall at 6 feet 10 inches, played college basketball for UCLA, but was forced to stop due to a heart condition that necessitated surgery.

Following his absence from the California-based university during the 2018-19 season, he moved to Louisiana State University, which boasts an impressive 900-pound bronze statue of Shaquille O’Neal outside its Basketball Practice Facility, honoring one of its illustrious alumni.

Following his graduation from LSU, the accomplished basketball player signed up with the NBA G League Ignite, a growth-oriented basketball team within the NBA G League, in the year 2022.

 

In this image, Shaq’s daughter, who stands at 6 feet 2 inches tall (just like her brother Shareef O’Neal), revealed in 2020 that she will be attending LSU, following her sibling to play college basketball for the same university.

As I stand on the threshold of my youth, one of the toughest choices I’ve encountered is the leap from high school to college. Despite the uncertainty of what lies ahead, I am eager for the test. It seems unbelievable, but here I am, expressing my delight to declare that I will be a student-athlete at LSU, joining forces with my brother Shareef O’Neal. Four years as a Tiger – I couldn’t be more grateful!

Afterward, she joined the basketball team at Texas Southern University for the academic year 2021-2022.

 

The oldest child of two-time NBA All-Star Zack Randolph played basketball with another NBA progeny, Izela Arenas (daughter of Gilbert Arenas), while studying at Sierra Canyon.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times last December, Randolph stated that he played for Michigan State under coach Tom Izzo. He described Izzo as tough and demanding, almost to the point of roughness, but added that with the girls, you had to be more careful as they tended to be more affectionate and endearing.

Mackenly mentioned that she had defeated her father on three separate occasions during one-on-one matches, adding humorously, “He doesn’t put up much of a defense.

As a devoted admirer, I embarked on my college athletics journey in 2019, choosing Florida Atlantic University, having been extended a preferred walk-on spot. Growing up, I was deeply immersed in basketball, but switched to football during my teenage years. Post-high school, I kicked off my playing career at Contra Costa Community College before transitioning to another institution.

After his college football career, Terique signed with the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad.

This student from Sierra Canyon High School was a starter throughout his entire time there and managed to secure two state championships. After that, he continued his athletic career at Vanderbilt University. Later in 2022, he secured a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

A graduate of Sierra Canyon High School started every game during his four years there and won two state championships. Following this, he played college basketball at Vanderbilt University. In 2022, he signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Following a short tenure with the NBA’s farm team, the South Bay Lakers, Scott Jr. secured a two-way deal with the Memphis Grizzlies in the year 2024.

The retired Chicago Bulls legend and five-time NBA champion is known for many roles, but being a father is certainly one of them.

Dennis Rodman Jr., often referred to as DJ, excelled in both basketball and football during his high school years at Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach, California. Following his graduation, he moved on to play the forward position at Washington State University. In the year 2023, he transferred to the University of Southern California.

In the year 2017, following a match, my esteemed high school coach, Ryan Schachter, expressed to the Orange County Register that I am among the less recognized or unfamiliar players hailing from Southern California, given my skills and abilities on the field.

After his college career, DJ joined Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League in 2024.

Despite DJ, Dennis’ son, pursuing basketball like his father, his daughter, Trinity Rodman, forged her unique path in the soccer realm. With her freshman season at Washington State Cougars being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she took a leap into professional sports by joining Washington Spirit in 2021 and later the United States women’s national soccer team in 2022.

In 2024, Trinity won Olympic gold as part of Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

 

It’s quite appropriate that the Greatest of All Time in golf has a son who shows remarkable talent on the green. Charlie Woods, at just 11 years old, made his televised golf debut alongside his father at the 2020 PNC Championship.

When queried if he had been practicing his golf swing prior to the father-son outing, the 15-time major champion responded, “I haven’t spent any effort on it. Frankly, my game isn’t a priority right now. I’m mainly focused on ensuring that Charlie has an unforgettable experience and enjoys every moment of this occasion.

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2025-05-24 03:48