Shaquille O’Neal and his mother Lucille O’Neal have an emotional connection. In his documentary, Shaq, he revealed that he once lost millions of dollars because one of his mother’s decisions. He seems to have put that behind him and decided to forget those losses. Especially now, when he’s worth $400 million today, and there’s ample proof of that both on and off the court. Today, Shaq isn’t just a former NBA player but a sports analyst as well. Fittingly, a former NBA Star recently recounted how Shaq forgave and went light on him during a game – and the reason had a connection with their mothers.

The incident becomes all the more heartfelt in light of a revelation by Shaq himself. He once revealed how his mother, Lucille O’Neal, took the hard way to teach him how he wasn’t yet ready for the big leagues. His father supported his mother during that time, back when Shaq was trying to get a foothold in basketball – one that would become his home for years to come. This incident would be a bittersweet experience for the young Shaq back then.

Lucille O’Neal’s singular requirement dashed Shaq’s dream

Shaq had a dream run during his sophomore year at Louisiana State University. He wanted to get into the NBA draft. He asked his parents to let him get into the draft and his mother presented him with a task – the one thing that was now between him and the NBA draft.  Shaq couldn’t complete the task, and that was the end of his NBA dream then.  The task wasn’t a simple one. – Shaq’s mother asked him to balance a checkbook.

Shaq’s mom, Lucille, wanted him to first understand the duress and pressure that he’d go through once he was in the NBA and playing with the big leagues. Shaq did go through junior college but withdrew in 1992 from the LSU and decided to go pro with the NBA and played for Orlando Magic.

Shaq forgave an NBA Star due to respect for Lucille O’Neal

But the great one has put all of this behind them, and that was proven once again when another NBA Star, Maurice Taylor, revealed an interaction between him and Shaq on the court. Taylor spoke to NBA Rookie Life with Ryan Hollins and said, “Shaq’s mom knew my mom. So, Shaq was always kinda casual with me. So, I go out there and he’s like, “Oh, so you are playing center now?” I just shook my head. He’s like, don’t worry I am not gonna dunk on you. He just laid the ball on me like eight straight times.”

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Maurice Taylor was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1992.  From 1997 to 2007, he played for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Houston Rockets, the New York Knicks and the Sacramento Kings.

It’s always heartwarming to hear the positive aspects of athletes who have been there, done that, and yet go on achieving in both their personal and professional lives and it is stories like this that need to come out more – proving to the audiences that even the most famous athletes and sportspersons are grounded individuals, beneath it all.

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What are your thoughts on Shaq’s relationship with his mom? Let us know in the comments!