Unlike Shaquille O’Neal, Steph Curry Had to Deal with ‘Dad’s Paying the Refs’ Allegations, Says Mom Sonya

We all know the childhood stories and the journey of some of the top names in the NBA, like the back of our hands. And Stephen Curry certainly ranks at the very top. Having an NBA player as a dad, one would think it would be smooth sailing for young Curry. However, it was anything but. Another name that has made its way around the world for being unique as they come was none other than one of the most dominant centers in the league ever, Shaquille O’Neal.

And who better equipped to reveal all those behind-the-scenes stories than the mothers? Sonya Curry and Lucille O’Neal are two of the well-known basketball matriarchs. And their new show, Raising Fame, is one everybody eagerly awaits. Before that, though, the pair decided to join Sway Calloway on his podcast to give a short glimpse into what we can expect to hear in the show set to premier on Sunday.

Sonya looks back at the times people waved credit cards and mocked her son, Stephen Curry, and his school days struggles

One of the Sway’s questions was about the insecurities or complexes that Curry and O’Neal had in their younger days. While it sounds impossible now to even think of such a thing, we all know those two legends had to face that and more. Let’s hear it from Mama Curry herself. “He was ridiculed a lot,” Sonya admitted on Sway’s Universe, somewhat emotionally, no doubt suddenly being transported to her firstborn’s high school days.

“[For] being tiny but also you know ‘your daddy’s money,’ ‘your Daddy’s buying you these wins in high school,’ and things like that.” Not sure he heard right, Sway asked incredulously, “They thought that Dell was buying referees?” Sonya replied in the affirmative, “Yes, paying the refs.” If only it ended with this.

The mother of three proceeded to provide examples of more allegations that were directed at him. They ranged from being teased about being born and raised with a golden spoon to being entitled to that everything was simply given to him. It would naturally make any mother want to fight off anyone messing with her babies. It wasn’t any different for Sonya either. But she knew it wouldn’t make much of a difference.

So instead, she and the kids’ father, Dell Curry, focused on leading by example and words. For instance, “We would always say, ‘That’s your daddy’s job, period.’ Because I would see other athletes’ children stand with diamond watches on and decked out every game and I’m like, ‘No, because what if that doesn’t happen for them?’ You are kind of setting them up for failure. And I watched a lot of kids fail at that goal of getting into the NBA.”

Well, Stephen Curry only came out stronger, allegations or not. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Steph is practically the definition of success. He is winning in life and his career! What about Shaq, though?

Lucille O’Neal recounts the insecurity the ‘Big Diesel’ had with his body

From the many nicknames that the 4x champion has garnered over the years, most of them are a reference to his 325-pound, 7’1 frame. Well, who can blame the creative brains behind it, really? When Shaquille O’Neal walks into a room, that’s the first thing you’ll notice. His size. Even in a room filled with basketball players, Shaq always stood out. While the NBA analyst accepts it wholeheartedly now, it wasn’t always the case, naturally.

“They laughed at him. His name being Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal, they made up so many other names, calling him out of his name, acting like they didn’t know how to pronounce it… It was hard at first. He would come home crying,” Lucille shared O’Neal’s strain of what it was like to be the biggest kid in your class or even school. And how did Mrs. O’Neal handle this?

“Those younger days, you don’t know how to handle that,” she admitted. But there was something Shaq’s mom would constantly remind her son of – that he was unique. Accepting himself and the body he was blessed with was the first step to success.

Even though a young Shaquille might not have comprehended it, he would realize just how useful his body and size would be when he arrived at the NBA. Combine that with his aggressiveness on-court and his opponents, as tough as they were back then, would still have a moment of reflection before going against the big man!

Can we imagine Shaq with the body of Steph Curry or even Michael Jordan now? Bizarre, right? But that’s just how life is, we suppose.

Then again, all those struggling young hoopers can take comfort in the fact that they are not alone in their troubles. Whatever they have gone or are going through, the men they look up to have faced similar situations, be it bullying, insecurities, or complexes. What do you think of this sneak peek into the lives of young Stephen Curry and Shaq? Let us know what you are looking forward to knowing the most about these two in the comments.

 But before you go, be sure to check this video of Leonard Armato’s take on the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe.

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