“She Wasn’t Proud”: Years After Loaning Millions to Mother, Shaquille O’Neal Admits Darkest 12 Years of His Life as a “Juvenile Delinquent”

NBA players often face drastic changes during their rise to fame. 4-time champion Shaquille O’Neal was no different. Believe it or not, ‘Big Diesel’ was not always the man we see on TNT today. He has admitted to acting like a “juvenile delinquent” in his youth, but by working on himself, he has come a long way!

In an exclusive interview with Houston Life‘s Melanie Camp, Shaquille O’Neal opened up about life and shared a heartfelt conversation about his personal journey and his mother’s profound influence on shaping the person he is today.

A mother’s unwavering support

Shaquille O’Neal reminisced about the challenging period of his life, from the age of two to fourteen, when he found himself caught up in a world of trouble as a juvenile delinquent. However, it was during these trying times that his mother’s love and belief in him never wavered. He said, “There was a point in time where she wasn’t proud of me. Two to fourteen, I was a medium level juvenile at the Lincoln.”

Despite his errors, she always saw the potential within him and encouraged him to pursue his dreams. Shaq recalled the sadness on his face when he witnessed Dr. J, one of his basketball idols, in action, and his mother recognized that spark of passion. She made a heartfelt promise to him, assuring him that if he dedicated himself to the sport, anything was possible.

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Thus, when O’Neal found success as a basketball player, he decided to do something nice for her. He let his mother borrow money to restart her schooling. This way, Lucille O’Neal completed her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate. As accomplished as she was, she had her own demons as well. She struggled with alcoholism and would spend her son’s money because of that. She didn’t want to embarrass her son and hence, worked on herself.

Shaquille O’Neal on his transformation

Shaq’s journey toward becoming a basketball icon began when he embraced his mother’s words of wisdom. As he chased his dreams, he discovered the transformative power of discipline, hard work, and perseverance. His mother’s belief in him became a constant reminder to stay focused and never give up. Furthermore, it motivated him to become the best version of himself.

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From his troubled past to supporting his family and helping them fight their own demons is a testament to Shaq’s success. Today, he continues to carry her teachings and values, striving to uplift those around him and spread joy through initiatives like his new venture, Big Chicken.