Shaquille O’Neal is one of the biggest sports personalities in the world. An undisputed NBA legend and one of the best centers in the history of the game. He won the NBA championships 4 times with two different franchises. Now, he is also a renowned business owner and a sports analyst.

Shaq, even after success, fame, and big money, still always remembers where he came from. His gratitude and his down-to-earth nature are some reasons millions of people love him. His acts of kindness and philanthropy never end, and he always wins hearts.

WATCH: Shaq’s biggest donations.

Only one of the many incidents when Shaq has helped and surprised people randomly without having second thoughts. This kind of nature really shows how one was brought up and many know how big a role Shaq’s mother played in his success, his nature, and his life.

Lucille’s relation with her son Shaquille O’Neal

Lucille O’Neal was only 17 when she gave birth to Shaq. She was yet to marry Shaquille’s father and did not know what she was doing at the time. Somewhere along the line after she became the army wife, she sort of lost herself and struggled with alcoholism. Despite all that, she always had a special bond with Shaq. The former MVP was already in a position where he was starting to make a name for himself. Lucille put aside all her struggles with alcoholism and got stronger for her son.

“It was hard at first because selfish… I don’t care about none of these people, I don’t care about any of that. But my son worked very hard to get to the position he was in and I could not, could not embarrass him. I needed to help him so I started working with him instead of working against him.” Lucille shared.

When Shaq had just started out, Lucille wanted him to complete college first and not join the NBA. Although Shaq convinced her that it was time for him to go on to bigger and better things. That is when Lucille knew Shaq would make it big. Shaq promised her he would complete his college later, and he did.

ALSO READ: Shaq once spent 1 million dollars in a day to make his mom and dad happy.

Lucille also shared a pre-game ritual even when Shaq had made it big. She would give him gum and give him a kiss, saying, “Go play your game.” Shaquille O’Neal is purely a mama’s boy and his love for his mother is immense.

Lucille worked hard to make Shaq’s dream come true and without her contribution, the world would not have seen the big man create his legendary life.