Shareef O’Neal, the son of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal is trying to make his way to the NBA. He recently played for the Los Angeles Lakers’ Summer League team and he is looking to make his impact in the G-League. But despite that, his father, Shaquille O’Neal, who has amassed a net worth of $400 Million and has won four NBA championship rings, does not want him to follow in his footsteps.

Shareef has been playing basketball since a young age and he has often sought the advice of Shaq to help him get to the NBA. He has been steadily improving, especially after having a life-threatening disease somewhat affect his progress. In 2018, the 22-year-old hooper was diagnosed with a heart condition during his stint at UCLA.

But since then, he has progressed leaps and bounds and was even signed by the Los Angeles Lakers to play in the Summer League. More recently, Shareef signed a six-figure deal with NBA G-League Ignite. However, he still is quite far away from getting into the NBA.

Shaquille O’Neal told his son to develop his own style

In a recent interview, Shaq was asked how he felt watching his son play in the Summer League for the Lakers. In response, the four-time NBA champion said that Shareef has set very high standards for himself, just like his father did back in the day. But he admitted that he always tells his kids that their path is completely different from his. And he would not want his kids to choose his path. On the contrary, he’d rather see them make their own path.

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But he does have some advice for Shareef. ” You are never going to be me. Don’t let people tell you that you’re me because you’re not. Your father is crazy. Your father is an idiot. Your father was a monster on the court,” declared the Lakers legend.

“You’re not like that. Develop your game. Develop your style. It’s fortunate and unfortunate that you’ll have to live with that name. But create your own way,” he added.

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Shaq does make a lot of sense. He was arguably the most dominant force in NBA History and it is ridiculously hard for his son to replicate that. And the amount of pressure that would feel would be massive. But luckily Shaq wants Shareef to develop his own game and own style and be his own unique player.

What is your opinion on Shaq’s advice to his eldest son? Let us know in the comments.