No longer is having the O’Neal name getting these NBA scions recognized as ‘Shaq’s kid’ anymore. Last year, Shareef O’Neal interrupted many who tried pulling his dad’s rank: “I’m Shareef. My name isn’t Shaq’s son.” Today, he’s making a basketball comeback by way of a $1.1 million deal with Sacramento (per Spotrac), and of course, his family is ecstatic, and so is Shaquille O’Neal. But there’s another thing that makes him prouder.

On the latest episode of Unapologetically Reese (released Friday), more precisely the More or Less segment, it was evident that O’Neal has some superstitions. Reese had to mention just this: “College basketball is back” for Shaq to make a quick response: “I’m not watching it. I never watch it.” Reese had to prove her uncle wrong listing the number of games he did come out to watch her play for the LSU Tigers, and that’s when Big Deisel course-corrected his word,

“You know what’s crazy. When I watch my kids play, they don’t play well. I make a lot of faces. So, the certain faces I make probably seem like I’m me. they don’t play well around me. They are 18 now and they’re grown. They know, as a father, if they need me, I’ll always be there. But I just let them live that life.” And that’s when O’Neal once again touted how perfect his six kids are. For Shaq, Shareef signing with the Kings is his newest ‘side gig,’ and it is not what matters the most to him personally. For dad, it’s something else entirely!

“You see how you said Shareef signed with the Kings, that’s cool, but I get more, ‘Hey man, I met Shareef, he’s a fine young man. Man, Shareef over here working in Reebok and he’s helping us out, he’s the bat…’ like that’s what it’s all about to me.”

Angel agreed too after working with the 24-year-old. Overcoming a life-threatening cardiac condition, Shareef played at the college and G-League levels. He was away from the court for most of 2023 but actually had plans to play pro-ball in Australia. O’Neal at that time let him in on a secret – he was about to return to Reebok as the president of the basketball division. He convinced Shareef to stay and help him rebrand Reebok.

Nevertheless, a lot of misconceptions about Shareef and his siblings exist. Sometimes it stresses his stepdad, Keion Henderson, who also claims Shareef is an outstanding young man. Last year, Shareef even admitted that he draws a line whenever people approach him for his famous dad. Despite wanting to be distant from the Big Aristotle’s legacy, he joined Shaq for one major venture.

Shareef O’Neal makes his family proud

Shareef does have a prior connection to the Sacramento Kings. Shaq owned a minority stake in the franchise from 2013 to 2022. Shareef, however, worked his way in. He went undrafted in 2022, though he had a brief contract with the Lakers. He went to the G-League where he had limited minutes. Shareef was absent from the court in 2023 but this year, he had several updates about practicing on the court and working out. He hinted at his return to the court way before he signed with the Kings.

Meanwhile, in October 2023, Shaquille O’Neal’s return to Reebok was officially announced, with Angel Reese being his first signing. Shareef worked behind the scenes, and a year later, Reese debuted the Reebok Engine A at her last game against Caitlin Clark. It’s Reebok’s first basketball performance shoe since 2015, and Shareef was glad to confirm he was involved in the design process.

He’s been actively marketing Reebok while training hard and also organizing his multiple charity events with the American Heart Association. Shareef is recognized a lot more for his work in cardiac health advocacy than Shaq’s son. His dad couldn’t be happier about it.

His one-year contract is worth $1,157,153. If he impresses the team enough, he could get a two-way contract soon. That would make Shaq happy but he’d rather have people see Shareef for who he really is.