If you ever wondered who is responsible for creating the most dominant center in the history of the NBA, look no further than Dr. J. The icon in basketball lore paved the way for almost every NBA superstar we know, including Shaquille O’Neal. After his stacked NBA career, Shaq has expanded his fame globally through multiple ventures. He’s becoming more approachable to his South American fans by revealing his admiration for the NBA star that inspired him.

Funnily, Shaq’s dad was hoping he’d be more like some other NBA stars. While Big Diesel does fanboy over others, one gets all the credit for shaping the NBA legend we know.

Dr. J’s impact on Shaquille O’Neal

A South American publication delved into Shaquille O’Neal’s spectacular NBA career spanning 19 seasons from 1992 to 2011. He told them, “I wouldn’t say I had any low points. At the end of the day, I have always felt grateful for what I had to do to make a living.” That mattered a lot to him. O’Neal’s family had its fair share of financial struggles. As an NBA pro, he bought them houses and cars.

Driven by his parents’ encouragement, Shaq aspired to be like the one and only Julius “Dr. J” Erving. “The player who impressed me the most? Many, but growing up my favorite was Dr. J. He inspired me to be a basketball player,” he added.

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O’Neal has made no secret of Dr J’s influence on him. In high school, he narrated he attempted Dr J’s signature finger roll in the middle of a competitive game. And he missed the shot.

His irate stepfather made him call a timeout, took him aside, and gave him an eye-opening smack on his head. Sergeant Phillip Harrison told teen O’Neal to stick to breaking backboards, and he did. That was one of the few occasions he followed Harrison’s advice.

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Shaq didn’t heed his dad’s advice

Shaq spoke highly of his stepfather, Phillip Harrison, often. He was pushing young Shaq to be better at academics and basketball. As much as he wanted Shaq to be himself, he threw out names he should aspire for.

“My father, Sergeant Phillip. He would always throw these three names at me. ‘So I want you to be dominant like Wilt Chamberlain. I want you to play defense like Bill Russell. And I want you to be a worldwide figure, and a great player and a great humanitarian like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar,‘” Shaq recalled in a previous interview with one of the very names his father mentioned, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

O’Neal did look up to Russell, Chamberlain, and Kareem. Yet Dr J reigned supreme. “But I was a hip-hop kid so I kinda started looking at you guys and went a little bit more towards Dr. J.”

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What are your thoughts on O’Neal’s inspiration? Let us know in the comments below.