Following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Shareef O’Neal has been carving his own path in basketball. After overcoming life-altering challenges, including a heart condition that nearly sidelined his basketball dreams during his time at UCLA, Shareef O’Neal is now making his mark on the court. Despite his focus on the game, he often pauses to reflect on personal milestones and memories. 25th was one such.

In a recent Instagram story, Shareef posted a picture of his grandad which serves as a heartfelt reminder of the bond they shared and the void his passing left. “[Love emoji] Miss you OG,” wrote Shareef as the caption of the story. This emotional tribute comes years after Shareef’s mother, Shaunie Henderson, posted an announcement mourning her father’s death. For Shareef, the loss remains deeply personal.

“The first man I ever loved is gone. For some reason it doesn’t seem real at times. But in those moments that it gets tough, I hear your voice. One thing about my dad is he loved a good time. It was going to be nothing but laughs mixed with him “kickin some knowledge” lol. He left us with SO MANY beautiful memories. ❤️My goal is to continue making you proud…. I Love you Daddy 💔🙏🏾,” Shaunie had written.

The CEO of Amirah, Inc., has shared a complicated bond with her father. Though she had her love for him, she has spoken about how he wasn’t exactly the best husband to her mother. Regardless, she has kept up with the heartfelt posts on social media. Her Instagram is filled with tributes that reflect the depth of her love and admiration for him, whom she used to refer to as ‘Mr. Nelson’.

Shareef, born in January 2000, got to spend about two decades with the man. “I was raised to value family above everything else,” Shaunie had said in her book, Undefeated, when talking about her battle to keep the family intact before the eventual divorce. Looks like it has passed on to her kids.

After the many obstacles, Shareef has now joined the Sacramento Kings’ G League team, the Stockton Kings, and is all ready to start a new chapter. His pause to remember his grandad in the midst brings back memories. Memories of him and his siblings being the reliable force as Mr. Nelson took his final breath.

Father’s death affected Shaunie’s second wedding

When he passed away in February 2020, Shaunie openly mourned the loss, describing her father as the man of unwavering strength and love. This profound loss cast a shadow over one of the happiest days of her life—her wedding to Pastor Keion Henderson in 2022. “I didn’t know how to disconnect dad from the wedding planning. Do I just cancel everything that’s going on that’s so wonderful right now to sit in this place of grief and pain?” wrote Shaunie in her memoir about that situation.

The Real Housewives star was worried about going ahead and upsetting her mom and sisters. Upon that another problem that was added to the whole narrative was that, the resort only gave her one day time to make everything final. But Shaunie knew that it would be what her father would have wanted. And with Keion by her side, she continued.