Getting Beaten Up by Drill Sergeant Father Each Time He Messed up, 7 ft Shaquille O?Neal Had Unexpected Reaction to Phil Jackson?s Disciplinary Actions

NBA legend Shaquille O?Neal came from humble beginnings. His biological father was not around. And his stepdad, Phillip A Harrison, became the father figure he needed. O?Neal still refers to him as his father. Harrison was a drill sergeant and a disciplinarian. He instilled many values in a young O’Neal and guided him throughout his life. Over the years, Shaq has talked about his father multiple times. And has shared the life lessons and values his father taught him. Recently, the former MVP talked about his father’s way of raising him.

The Big Diesel sat down with Patrick Bet-David recently and talked about a variety of things. During the chat, the host asked about the coaching style of Phil Jackson. He mentioned the late Kobe Bryant‘s comments about the coach where he mentioned that Jackson would tell something in the press conference to get under the players’ skins. And this would make them play harder and also unite them.

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PBD wanted to know whether that was the case with Jackson. And Shaq admitted that he would play mind games with them.

Shaquille O?Neal talks about his father

Shaquille O?Neal said that Jackson would tell something like Shaq was not ready. However, O’Neal said that he would talk back. Which is in stark contrast to the way he would react to his father. And he said that the way his father raised him helped him not have any friction with the head coach.

O’Neal said, “My father was a drill sergeant. I understand you’re military. But I wasn’t allowed to talk back, wasn’t allowed to be afraid, wasn’t allowed to make excuses. So whatever I put my mind to I had to get it accomplished or else… Even though I was a professional making a lot of money, I still had that mentality that, ‘If I don’t get it done, I’m going to get in trouble by my father’.”

The Lakers legend has multiple times admitted that his father would beat him when he was young. Sergeant Harrison’s strict ways made him into the man he is today.

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In 1996, Shaq joined the Lakers signing the biggest contract at the time. With some time and Phil Jackson’s guidance, Bryant and O’Neal became one of the best duos of all time and won three straight titles from 2000 to 2002. Shaq won the Finals MVP on all three occasions.