“I’m Sure She’s Celebrating in Heaven”: Shaquille O’Neal Reacts After Winning an Oscar Alongside Stephen Curry

Shaquille O’Neal and Stephen Curry are among the NBA’s greatest players of all time. While Shaq was a dominant force inside the paint, Curry changed the sport itself. He made effective use of the three-point line to allow the game to open up. Regardless, both stars were integral to the success of the respective teams that they played for. They have been recognized for their greatness and are a part of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.

However, there has been an occasion where the greatness of Steph and Shaq went beyond the basketball court and into the world of movies. This is when they became Oscar winners this year as executive producers of ‘The Queen of Basketball.’ The movie won the Oscar in the Documentary Short category at the Oscars this year.

Shaquille O’Neal Reacts to Winning The Oscar

As an executive producer alongside Stephen Curry, Shaq expressed his praise for Lusia Harris, the basketball legend on whom the documentary is based.

“Wish Lucy would have been here for this victory, but I’m sure she’s celebrating in heaven,” said Shaq.

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Clearly, Shaq is happy and proud of Lusia Harris. Moreover, this victory is a testament to the impact of women in sports.

Who is Lusia Harris?

Women’s basketball has only come into the limelight in recent times. However, one must remember those who created the pathway for women’s basketball today. One such trailblazing icon is Lusia Harris. At 6 feet and 3 inches, Harris was a dominant force on the basketball court who took advantage of playing in the post, just like Shaq. As a member of Delta State University women’s team, Harris became the centerpiece of her squad. She helped the team achieve an astounding 109-6 record through her scoring and rebounding. Moreover, she led her team to 3 AIAW Tournament wins and was named as the MVP on all three occasions.

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Furthermore, she became the first player in the history of women’s basketball to score a basket in the Olympics in 1976, the year when women’s basketball became a part of the Olympics. During that year’s Olympics, she would also lead the USA to a Silver Medal finish while being the team’s leading scorer and rebounder. In the following year, Harris became the first and only woman to have been drafted into the NBA, where she was selected by the New Orleans Jazz. However, she did not play in the NBA. Regardless, she was inducted into the Hall-Of-Fame. She clearly is the pioneer of women’s basketball and women in sport.