When someone from humble background makes it to the NBA, the fortunes can multiply many times. They can contribute to their family and also keep many friends happy. After all, the iron-hand-clad journey can’t be covered alone. Therefore, it is not surprising when an NBA athlete gives a lot back to their family or even their community. The “I Promise” campaign by LeBron James is an example of giving it to the community. 

For one of the throwback players, Shaquille O’Neal, a hefty payday meant doing something for his loved ones. He touches open an incident involving a mother and her child.

Shaquille O’Neal remains grounded despite the monetary upheaval

The former Miami Heat Center appeared on popular singer Monica’s YouTube show MoTalk and went into several anecdotes. He furnishes details about his intimate life and family.

When talking about the role of money in shaping his relations and worldview, he states, “I show everybody respect, I know for a fact that just because I have made more than you, my house is bigger, doesn’t mean I am better than you”.

He also highlights the role of his mom and how he stayed in check even after amassing a lot of wealth. He expressed, “Quickly, tell my mom and dad and stay humbled, brother, as quickly as you see her. It could be gone right away. So whenever I see a person down, I try to lift them up. My thing is to do one good deed a day.”

In relation to this “good deed a day” mantra, the former Los Angeles Lakers Center also shares an anecdote.

He goes on, ”Yesterday I was in Best Buy and I saw me and my mother in the past. I saw this lady and a little son, they were in the layaway section. And mom was like, I was ear hustling. I was just standing over there. She’s like,’ I want to give my son this laptop’ and she was asking how much to pay. And she was looking at a payment plan. It was only 1500, I said, ‘Oh man, give her a laptop.’

As the woman sees Shaq, she recognizes him immediately and calls his name “Shaq?”.

He recounts, ” Yeah, go on take it, she replies, ‘No I can’t take it”. Shaq continues, “Matter of fact, give her two laptops, you take one to work. As for me, just to see them people smile”.

Then Shaq chokes up for a while, thinking about his childhood memories of his mother and how he wanted to do a lot for her to show his gratitude.

Read more: Having Spent $1.3 Million on Three Rolls Royces, Shaquille O’Neal Hints at Another Major Purchase on Social Media

He continues,” That was me and my mom, that was me and my mom, it got to a point that we were in the layaway so long when I got drafted in 1992, I bought them a house first, I got them set-up. Then I said, ’ Mom come shop with me, stereo shopping’. I am ballin’, amps, double cassette, CDs, laser, boom, boom, boom’, and I am looking for my mom, and she was in the back, talking to the guy about the layaway.”

In the layaway, his mom was asking the shop manager to put all the stuff Shaq order back because it was $250000. To this, Shaq replied, “Mom, them days is over“

The Big Aristotle, A Storyteller

The way the endearing personality weaved these anecdotes together showcases his prowess as a storyteller. He brilliantly stitched together the narrative of his childhood to the one that occurred recently. These first-hand narratives appeal to many mothers and their children who are looking at the price tag for too long. 

Shaq’s net worth is estimated at over $400 million. His reputation is so huge that his Inside the NBA co-host Kenny Smith once remarked that “Shaq is the most astute businessman I know”. His perspectives suggest that he has remained respectful despite amassing such wealth.

Did you like his anecdotes? Do share in the comments below.

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