Today, the world knows Shaquille O’Neal as one of the most successful basketball players. However, his childhood life was poles apart. Growing up as an already massive child, his mother Lucille O’Neal had the Big Diesel at just 17 years old. In addition, his biological father was never a part of their life at the time.

Likewise, their life was never easy. For the first two years of raising Shaq, Lucille was a single mother. However, remembering the words of her mom, she felt there was something special about bringing in a child. And the Los Angeles Lakers great did much more than just prove her right. Shaq quickly grew in size, and with that so did his basketball potential. At the age of just 10, the four-time NBA champion was already 6’4″.

His mammoth frame and super freak athleticism quickly became his most notable traits. However, before Shaq got recognition, his size became a problem. It got to a point his mother had to start a fight just to allow a young Shaq to get on the bus.

Shaquille O’Neal was a giant even when he was 2

Lucille O’Neal had to fight for Shaq ever since he was born. Naming him her little warrior, she wanted Shaq’s name to mean something. Never leaving his side while growing up, she faced some challenging times. Notably, even when he was just two years old, the 1999-2000 MVP didn’t look like it. He was big and people that saw him couldn’t believe it.

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While on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Shaquille O’Neal revealed an interesting phase in his life. As a two-year-old, he was entitled to ride the bus for free. However, the bus driver suspected the Big Diesel to be much bigger. This forced his mother to raise her fists to get her son a free ride on the bus.

Shaq said: “She tells me a story that as a two-year-old I was very oversized. So of course, kids three and under ride the bus for free. So she would drag me onto the bus and the guy was like, ‘Hey, you got to pay the extra money’. And my mom would say, ‘No, he is only two’. So I actually have seen her fist fight a bus driver one time as the bus driver refused to believe I was two years old.” 

Lucille O’Neal would not back down when Shaq deserved fair treatment. However, if her son ever took the wrong step, she would be the first one to correct him. Notably, even when he fought his best friend, fellow NBA great Charles Barkley in 1999, she immediately made the phone call.

Lucille O’Neal and Barkley’s mother, Charcey Glenn made sure the two hugged it out after their altercation. A proactive mother, Lucille O’Neal also made sure the Los Angeles Lakers legend completed his education. Likewise, he went on and got his Master’s degree, undoubtedly making his mother proud.

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Without his mother, the world would probably never have gotten the chance to see Shaquille O’Neal blossom into one of the most dominating forces in sports history.