Shaquille O’Neal once revealed that he lost his virginity really “late” for practicing intense self-discipline. As it turns out, ‘the Big Diesel’ had intercourse for the first time at the age of 17, just before leaving high school for college. According to Shaquille O’Neal, he showed immense restraint in high school amid an epidemic of teen pregnancies and STD transmission in contemporary America.

Soon after entering the NBA as the number one overall pick of the 1992 draft, Shaq captured the imagination of hoop lovers all around the country. The 7’1″ giant’s unprecedented dominance on the basketball court made him popular among fans. Within no time, the NBA sensation became a household name through his performance on the court, as well as through commercials, TV appearances, etc.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Shaq addressed his unbelievable fame and its perks. He also answered certain personal questions to quench the curiosity of his fans.

Shaquille O’Neal lost his virginity at the age of 17

Shaquille O’Neal revealed that he lost his virginity pretty late for a superstar athlete. “It was late,” the Lakers legend told Rolling Stone. “Real late.”

“Women didn’t like me until high school,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the former Lakers superstar also revealed that he observed restraint in his early years in matters of sexual promiscuity. In a time when venereal diseases and teen pregnancies dominated American campuses, Shaq saw the importance of preserving his health. As it turns out, he remained vigilant after entering the NBA as well.

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Incidentally, the United States went through an AIDS epidemic in the 80s and early 90s. Sexual promiscuity, especially among young people, led to the swift dissemination of the disease.

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The shockwaves of the epidemic rocked the NBA world in 1991 with Magic Johnson’s HIV diagnosis. As a result, Shaq’s decision to observe restraint during that time is certainly wise and commendable.

Shaq’s strong values

Shaq’s self-discipline is a direct result of the core values instilled in him by his parents. In fact, Shaq’s father Sergeant Harrison adopted stringent measures in his childhood to free the future Hall-of-Famer of any bad habits.

In addition, mother Lucille also provided Shaq with strong advice to avoid groupies as an NBA superstar. Therefore, the four-time NBA champion had the right guidance to pursue his goals.

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Afterwards, Shaq would marry Shaunie Nelson in 2002. As of now, the Lakers legend is the proud father of six kids.