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Shaquille O’Neal and her mom were each other’s only support. But when Lucille met Harrison things changed. She claims that Shaq might have been a little jealous, and even gave an ultimatum to his would-be stepfather. “Shaquille made a deal with Phil he said if you want my mother you got to take me and he let him know that we came as a package Shaquille and I,” she said. It would take some time for things to smooth over as Shaq was young and rebellious. Ultimately, they ended up forming a strong bond and were a happy family.
Her mother recalls how when Shaq was growing up, he differed from other students and would go out of his way to fit in.
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Shaquille O’Neal’s troubled childhood
Even though he had a height advantage, other children still bullied Shaq. They also spoke very rudely to him and continued to pick on him since he never responded. Lucille believed at that time Shaq lacked courage and self-confidence.
Shaquille O’Neal explained how it was not just his height that made him stand apart. It was his stammering that other children would trouble him about. To avoid bullying he started misbehaving with others. Soon he became a follower of other guys, to fit in the group. He said, “I was a follower you say to me let’s go steal some gum I’d say let’s go. If you say to me hey that old lady she sleep on the bus her purse is open I see some money, I try to sneak over there and take it I would do it.”

via Getty
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 24: Former Los Angeles Lakers great Shaquille O’Neal (R) gets a kiss from his mother Lucille as they attend the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers game after his statue was unveiled earlier in the night at Staples Center March 24, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
He could stay away from such distractions later on because of his stepfather’s disciplined routine. The extraordinary journey of Shaquille O’Neal was filled with major challenges just like the average joe. He could deal with it because of constant family support who would guide him the right way.
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