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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 23: Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal laughs as he attends the unveiling of the Shaq Courts at the Doolittle Complex donated by Icy Hot and the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation in partnership with the city of Las Vegas on October 23, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Icy Hot)
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 23: Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal laughs as he attends the unveiling of the Shaq Courts at the Doolittle Complex donated by Icy Hot and the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation in partnership with the city of Las Vegas on October 23, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Icy Hot)
Shaquille O’Neal and Shaunie O’Neal have been separated for a long time now. Apart from their divorce, they still have a great relationship with each other. The couple are co-operating with their children Shareef, 19, Amirah, 17, Shaqir, 15, and Me’arah, 12.
As recently as 2019, Shaq expressed his opinion regarding the dynamics of a family. According to him, “It’s a man’s job to protect and provide. That’s it,”. In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly at the opening of his Shaquille’s at L.A. Live restaurant, Shaquille shared this statement.
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Furthermore, he brought up the idea of being a father as part of this statement. In terms of balancing the role of fatherhood, he described himself as having a team-oriented mindset. He continued by mentioning, “Being on a championship team, playing for a championship franchise, you learn teamwork and you learn leadership,” he explained. “You’ve got to have a point guard, appoint somebody to look at the books. You’ve got to have a shooting guard.”
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Shaquille O’Neal discussed how his basketball skills helped him be a good father to his children
The interviewer asked him if he has someone to prepare his meal following this statement. He responded, laughing, “No, never!”. Being a former player not only gives him the mindset of a player that he uses in his business dealings, but also in his personal life.
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SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA: (L-R) Shareef O’Neal, Shaquille O’Neal, and Shaqir O’Neal attends 2019 NBA Awards at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/WireImage)
While giving the interview, he also shared some of his family stories about how his children view him. The former NBA star and well-known businessman talked about this topic, as he said, his children think of him differently from the outside world.
“They always say Kobe [Bryant] or LeBron [James] [are their favorite players],” he said. “I don’t think they realize who I was. They never really saw that. They never mention me. … To them, I’m Dad.”
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New Lakers Karl Malone and Gary Payton sit next to an injured Shaquille O’Neal during the Lakers exhibition game against the Phoenix Suns at the Sports Arena in San Diego. O’Neal has a bruised left heel and did not play. (Photo by Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
In 2002, Shaq and Shaunie were married. Together, they have four children. In 2007, the couple separated. It was announced in 2009 that the divorce was finalized. Currently, they are on good terms. In addition to being parents to their children, they are also great friends.
Please share your thoughts on Shaq’s statement.
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