Shaquille O’Neal has emerged as one of the most popular figures in basketball. However, his road to becoming that wasn’t always easy. Shaq had a tough childhood and was bullied by many. Although Shaq has often talked about a woman who was very close to him, and how she saved him from his father, who tried to make him tough as a kid.

Shaq’s father was a military man, and he raised his boys on strict principles. His father was the one who introduced him to the game and made him who he was. Shaq has often thanked his father for making him who he was. But when Shaq was young, his father tried to make him tough, and he was rebuked by Shaq’s great grandmother.

Shaquille O’Neal talks about his great grandmother

Shaq talks about his great-grandmother in his book “Shaq Talks Back”. He says, “Cillar, or “Muma” as we call my great-grandmother, grew up in a much different world than I ever knew. Her father killed himself at the age of forty-five, supposedly over another woman. Muma grew up on a farm in Dublin. She picked cotton and pulled corn as a young woman”

He recalls one story about his great-grandmother and his father. His dad wanted to make him hard and grow up and stop being a baby. So he stopped giving milk to Shaq at his bedtime. And this did not go down well with ‘Muma’.

Shaq says, “Muma used to sneak me a milk bottle at bedtime. She had a little stash of them for me hid in her bedroom. So one time my father snatched me and snatched the bottle and started yelling at me.”

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“Leave that boy alone!” Muma said. And then she took her shoe and hit him in his head. Just popped him, right in the head. Yeah, Muma was tough. Still is.”

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Shaq went on to become one of the most dominant forces seen in the NBA. He won four titles and was rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame. Shaq credits his dad and mom for a lot of his success. But he also has a sweet spot in his heart for his great-grandmother, who wasn’t afraid to take on Shaq’s dad.