NBA Legend Shaquille O’Neal apparently had a very strict father when he was growing up. Even though Shaq has said that his stepfather was integral to his success, however, the Lakers legend did not feel that way when he was young. After meeting his birth father, Shaq embraced a newfound admiration for sergeant Philip Harrison.

Shaq was raised by Sergeant Harrison after his biological father left the family when he was one year old. He has often said that his father taught him everything from tieing his shoelaces, brushing his teeth, and even playing basketball. O’Neal further reiterated that his stepfather was key to his success in the NBA. It was Sergeant Harrison who taught the 4x Championship winner how to be a man and carry himself. Nevertheless, he has also, on multiple occasions, said that his father was very strict.

Shaquille O’Neal said that he was reprimanded multiple times as a kid and sometimes felt that his father’s demeanor was excessive. However, ‘The Big Aristotle’ tells a story, where he found a new respect for his stepfather.

Shaquille O’Neal met his birth father and it changed his perspective

Shaq, in his documentary, narrated a story in which his mom asked him if he wanted to meet his birth father. “Yeah, I can get away from this motherf***r [Harrison] now and go live with my other dad. And we get in the car, and guess where we end up at,” said O’Neal

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“The same projects I was born and raised in. So we go in this guy’s house, Joe Toney, and we are sitting, talking. But I’m looking around like, “I’m not coming back to this shit.”

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Shaq found admiration for the sergeant who had married his mom when he was two years old. He had provided for the family and took care of them. And despite all the punishments he had to face, Shaq wrote that Sergeant Philip Harrison was his daddy.

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The Lakers legend has said multiple times that without his dad, he would not be the dominant player that we all saw. Even though Shaq has now made peace with his biological father, he holds the sergeant in the highest regard.