“They F***ing Me Up in School”: Shaquille O’Neal, Who Shivered in Fear Due to His Father, Reveals the First Time He Fought Back

Published 11/29/2022, 1:50 PM EST

Four-time NBA champion and millionaire Shaquille O’Neal lives a lavish lifestyle currently. However, this wasn’t always the case. He struggled a lot initially in his early days. At that time, his parents played a huge role in shaping his life.

O’Neal’s stepfather, Phillip A. Harrison was an inspiration for him growing up and Shaq naturally had a lot of respect and also fear for his father.

Article continues below this ad

Interestingly enough, O’Neal rebelled against his father for the first time while taking an important decision about his future. College-level basketball involved a lot of fouls that could have injured Shaq. For this reason, he took a vital decision that changed the course of NBA history.

Shaquille O’Neal rebelled with his father while deciding on his future

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal was one of the hottest prospects in the country while he was in college. Playing for the LSU Tigers, Shaq was destined for greatness.

However, the games were usually very violent involving a lot of fouls. For this reason, O’Neal took the big decision of going to the NBA. In the recently released ‘Shaq’ documentary, the former NBA champion talked about this experience.

Shaq said, “Go home. Same Argument. Man, f**k that. They f***ing me up in school. I’m going. And it was the first time he looked back at me and he realized he had created a man”

Shaquille O’Neal on Father Slapping the Magic Johnson Craze Out of Him: “I See This Big Black Dude Walking Up the Court”

As history goes, O’Neal would make the right decision in entering the NBA. He retired having won almost everything there is to win, establishing himself as one of the greatest players ever.

Sergeant Phillip A. Harrison often employed traditional parenting methods to discipline Shaq. Therefore, the Big Diesel rarely spoke out against his father. But the 7′ center’s belief in his decision let Sergeant Harrison know that he had created a man.

How good was Shaq in college?

Shaquille O’Neal was blessed with incredible physicality. This helped him dominate opponents both early on in his career and also during his time in the NBA.

Article continues below this ad

O’Neal played for the LSU Tigers at the college level. He is a two-time consensus Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and first-team All-American, 1991-1992.

Moreover, he was the National Player of the Year for the year 1991 adjudged by various media publications. He finished his career at LSU with 1,941 points and 1,217 rebounds. (Source: www.lsusports.net)

Article continues below this ad

WATCH THIS STORY: $400 Million Rich Shaquille O’Neal Used Elvis Presley Marilyn Monroe and Playboy to Earn Millions

What is your favorite memory of Shaquille O’Neal? Let us know in the comments down below.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Abhinava is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor's in Journalism and Mass Communication. Abhinava has been following NBA for the past 6 years and is a huge fan of the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry.

Edited by:

Satagni Sikder

“They F***ing Me Up in School”: Shaquille O’Neal, Who Shivered in Fear Due to His Father, Reveals the First Time He Fought Back

Shaquille O’Neal rebelled with his father while deciding on his future

Trending

Heat Injury Report: Latest On Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson Ahead of Game 2 vs Celtics

What Happened to Kenny Smith’s Legs? Unfolding the Sad Truth Behind TNT Host’s Dodgy Knees

“So Rigged”: All Hell Breaks Loose as Jamal Murray Forces LeBron James’ Lakers Into Bitter Embarrassment

Is Dawn Staley Married? Details on South Carolina Coach’s Love Life and Special Bond With Lisa Boyer

Billionaire Michael Jordan’s $61 Million Arrival in Talladega Saw Unusual Absence of Wife Yvette Prieto

How good was Shaq in college?